Download Ancient Egyptian Art Where is Egypt?

The Nile River
Ancient Egyptian Art is commonly divided up into
three main periods/phases:
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Old Kingdom 2636-2185 BCE
Middle Kingdom 2133-1786 BCE
New Kingdom 15-67-1085 BCE
Egyptian art was greatly influenced by the
geography of the region, Ancient Egyptian
civilization developed beside the Nile River.

The Nile River is about
6,670 km in length and is
the longest river in Africa
and in the world.

Although it is generally
associated with Egypt,
only 22% of the Nile’s
course runs through
Egypt.
The Nile river was very important to the
Egyptians because of the following reasons:
(any guesses?)
Transportation (in boats up the river and back
down it- trade and travel)
 Food – for the animals and people
 Fresh water
 Irrigation (water source to draw water from)
 Protection from invaders due to the mountains
to the south and deserts on both sides and the
Mediterranean sea to the north
 Agriculture - Nile flooded each year depositing
rich soil on it’s banks necessary to grow crops

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Because of the Nile River, Egyptian
Civilizations emerged along the river banks.
Egypt became a thriving nation.

Agriculture, trade, art, and majestic
monuments and temples were constructed.

Pharaoh – the ruler who governed with
complete authority

Much of the art of the Egyptians was based on
the importance of the Pharaoh. The Pharaoh
was considered to be a God on earth. He or she
ruled with absolute power.

Pharaohs used art and architecture to promote
their own greatness and power.

Much of the art works of Ancient
Egypt is based on the Egyptians
religious beliefs which revolved
around the cycles of nature and
the movement of their sun god
RA.

The Egyptians believed that
the spirit of the dead (the
KA) could possibly
reincarnate in the deceased
body after death.

Therefore, much of Egyptian
art is based on the idea of
preserving the body so that
the spirit (KA) could one
day return to the body.

One of the ways in which
they tried to preserve the
body is through
Mummification.

This involved a complex
process of removing various
organs of the body after
death and placing these
organs in canopic jars.

They would also
embalm the body with a
mixture of various oils,
natron and wrappings in
order to preserve the
figure.

The body would then be
placed in a 1) coffin of
wood or gold, or 2) a
stone sarcophagus to
be buried.

All of the great pyramids were constructed
during the OLD kingdom

To glorify the
Pharaoh

To offer an
impressive resting
place

To protect the
Pharaoh’s body
and riches from
treasure hunters

Please answer the questions on the handout
given to you in the “Art in Focus” textbook

You may work quietly with a partner

Tomorrow we will take up the answers as a
class. You will be given a grade out of 11
marks.