LECTURE 3

EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
Outline
-Historical Background
-Location and period
-Social characteristics and beliefs
-Architecture of the Civilization
-Early Kingdom Tombs
-Middle and New Kingdom Burial Chambers
-New Kingdom Cult Temples
-Other Architectural Elements
-Architectural Characteristics
-Buildings and other architectural elements
-Building materials, construction and technologies
-Architectural Organizing principles

Sources Asst. Prof. Rehan Masood

-www.historylinklol.com/ancient_egypt.htm
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
LOCATION
Located in Africa on the northern
edge of the Sahara
The Nile bisects through the land
from the south to the north
The Nile is a seasonal river that
overflows its bank yearly to create
a fertile valley
The Ancient Egyptians lived in the
fertile valley and grew their crops
They buried their dead in the
desert
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
PERIOD
The history of ancient Egypt started with the land divided into upper and
lower Egypt
The two regions were frequently at war with each other
Around 3000 BC, King Menes united the two into a single nation
Unification brought about peace that led to the development of ancient
Egyptian Civilization
The history of ancient Egypt is divided into periods based on ruling
dynasties. Seven periods can be identified;
4500 to 2000 BC Early Dynastic
2350 2200 BC Old Kingdom
2000-1600 BC First Intermediate period
1600 1717 BC Middle Kingdom
1350 612 BC Second Intermediate Period
612 539 BC New Kingdom
539 330 BC Greek-Roman Period
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BELIEFS
Importance of Nile
The Nile and its delta was the guiding force
of ancient Egyptian civilization
It was a very predictable river, overflowing
its banks every year from July to October
The floods leave a rich black silt that is
fertile and is farmed by the people
During the floods, people were freed from
farming to engage in other activities
including building work
The Nile was also the highway of Egypt connecting upper and lower Egypt
The Nile also offered protection from Invasion by outsiders
The Nile offered a symbolic sense of direction to the people, forming the
primary principle in architectural organization
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BELIEFS
Government
At the center of ancient Egyptian civilization was a
strong central government headed by pharaohs
The pharaohs provided Stability and a unified sense of
purpose
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BELIEFS
Religion
Ancient Egyptians were a religious people
They believed in many Gods
Different symbols were used to represent
the Gods and temples were built and
dedicated to them
The pharaohs were also held as living Gods
Egyptians also believed in life after death
They believed that when they die, their
souls called Ka would live in them for ever
For the Ka to live, it needed either the body of the dead person or a copy of
it in the form a statue
The Ka will return each night to the body or statue
If both the body and statue are destroyed, then the Ka would die
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BELIEFS
Mummification
To ensure the availability of a body to the ka of a
dead person, the Egyptians developed a process of
preservation called mummification
The process involves cutting open the body and
removing all the internal organs and brain
The body is then packed in natron to dry it out
It is then soaked in oil to preserve it
Next it is wrapped in a special cloth called mummy
cloth
The mummy is then coated with wax and a face painted onto its wrapped head
The mummification of a pharaoh took a period of 72 days
Once mummification is finished, burial ceremonies are performed and the body
is ready for burial
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND BELIEFS
Architecture Ideas
Ancient Egyptians viewed earthly dwellings as
temporary
They paid little attention to house construction
The tomb was seen as a permanent dwelling for
the afterlife
Tremendous effort was exerted in tomb
construction
The mummified dead body was buried in a
stone box called sarcophagus in the tomb
They believed that a dead person needs all his worldly goods
The tomb was usually packed with all the treasures of a dead person
If anything cannot be provided, it is painted on the walls of the tomb
 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS AND
BELIEFS
Architecture Ideas
Tombs also have charms to protect
the dead person & his property
The dead were buried in cities of the
dead, called Necropolis located in
the desert
 ARCHITECTURE OF CIVILIZATION
INTRODUCTION
During the old Kingdom, the pharaoh and his court lived in
Memphis
When they died they were buried at the Necropolis at Saqqara
The earthly dwelling of the ancient Egyptians was seen as
temporary and the tomb as a permanent dwelling
Houses were built of temporary materials to last for a life time
Tombs were most outstanding architectural element of the
period
Tombs also serve as the focus for the worship of the dead
The Tomb evolved during the old kingdom from the Mastaba,
through the stepped pyramid to the renown ancient Egyptian
pyramid
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA
The earliest method of burial in ancient Egypt
was in shallow pits in the desert
The desert dried the bodies and preserved them
When animals preyed on bodies, the people dug
deeper
In the end they built a bench-like structure over graves to create first
burial structure called Mastaba
The name mastabais derived from podiums found in the front of
traditional houses
In the Old Kingdom, rich and noble person built mastaba for their burial in
the city of the dead
Above ground the Mastabais a large bench of sun-baked bricks rising 9
meters high
It had a flat top and slanting walls
The earliest royal tombs were decorated with painted patterns in brilliant
colors
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA
Internally, a mastabaconsist of three parts-a
burial chamber, a serdaband a chapel
The burial chamber was located 30 feel below
ground
It was connected to burial chamber above
ground through a shaft
The burial chamber is the place for the burial
of the dead person
In the chamber is found the sarcophagus where the dead body was placed
The burial chamber is packed with all the necessary things needed in the
after life
After burial, the shaft to the burial chamber is sealed
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA
The Serdaband Chapel are located above
ground
The serdabis a room where the statue of the
dead person is kept
The statue acts as a substitute for body in case
it is destroyed
Egyptians believe that the Ka must return to
the body or a copy of it each night
If both body and statue are destroyed, the ka would die
The chapel is where the ka is supposed to live for ever
It is a colorful room meant to deceive the gods into letting the ka enter the
next world
Had a false door leading to the land of the dead
Some mastabashad fence walls, and chambers for burial of servants
Mastabaserved as an embryo for the evolution of the pyramid
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID
King Zoser was the powerful pharaoh of the
third dynasty of the old kingdom
The stepped pyramid was built for king Zoser by
Imhotep
It was built as a funeral complex in the
necropolis at Saqqara
Imhotep initially conceived of the tomb as a
large Mastaba of stone
Dissatisfaction with the result led to the
stacking of mastabaone on top of another
The result was the stepped pyramid with five sloping setbacks
The stepped pyramid is the intermediate step between mastaba and
geometric pyramid
Stepped pyramid was 200 feet high with 6 giant steps
The burial chamber is entered from the north side and is 92 feet down

 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS

STEPPED PYRAMID
On either side of the chamber are store rooms for the
kings treasures
All the treasures buried with Zoser have long been
stolen
A stone statue of zoser was also recently found staring
out through peep holes in his Serdab

The Serdab is located on the north

side, along with the funerary temple
The stepped pyramid stands at the
middle of a large complex
The funeral complex consisted of
palaces, temples and the stepped
pyramid
They were all surrounded by a fence
wall 33 feet high
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID
The fence wall of the funeral complex has a
breaking pattern of about 200 projections and
recessions
Fourteen of these were larger than the others
and 13 out of the fourteen had false doors
The false doors were for the use of the
pharaohs ka The entrance door leads to a long hall having two
rows of columns
This is one of the first uses of columns in history
The columns were designed to look like bundles of
reeds and had flutes
In the north palace is also found stone columns with
capitals
They were designed to look like the papyrus plant
Zosers funeral complex was designed as a model of
his palace, city and kingdom
The shape of the pyramid suggest a stairway to the
sky to join the sun God AmonRa
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID
After the stepped pyramids, there were several attempt at
building a pure geometric pyramid
Among the prominent attempts were the pyramid at
Medunand 2 pyramids built by Snefruat Dashur
King Hunimade the first attempt at building a pure
pyramid at Medun
He constructed a 7 stepped pyramid with a square plan
and height of 90 m and an angle of incline of 51 degrees
The pyramid did not have a mortuary temple
Pharoah Snefrumade two attempts His first pyramid, the Bent pyramid at
at pyramid construction Dashurhad a square plan with a height of 102
meters
The pyramid had a change of angle midway,
leading to its being called the bent pyramid
Snefrus second pyramid, the north pyramid,
is the place he was buried
It had a low pitch of 43 degrees instead of
52 degrees making it look stunted
A true pyramid has an incline angle of 52
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZA
The construction of a true geometrical
pyramid was achieved during the reign of
Cheops, son of Snefru
This was located at Giza
This pyramid is called the Great Pyramid
because of its size
The pyramid is 482 ft high on a plan 760 ft
square Two additional pyramids were subsequently built at Giza
The second largest in the center was built by Chefren, the
son of Cheops
The third and smallest was built by Mykerinus, the son of
Chefren
The three together are referred to as the pyramids at
Giza
The three are aligned diagonally along the projection of
the diagonal of the great pyramid
The small pyramids close to them were built for their
Queens
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
THE GREAT PYRAMID CHEOPS
The great pyramid has a unique internal
arrangement
First it has a chamber built below the base of
the pyramid
Another chamber was built above it known as
the queens chamber
A larger burial chamber known as the kings
chamber was built at the center of the
pyramid
The This is the chamber where the king was
buried in his Sarcophagus
The kings chamber was 35 ft by 17ft in plan and 19ft high
Both the king and queen chamber are connected to the entrance on the north side
Two air shafts also connect the kings chamber to outside for ventilation
Once a king is buried, the burial chamber was sealed forever
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
PYRAMID
The pyramids were designed as part of a
funeral complex for the burial of a pharaoh
Chefrens complex is the best preserved
example
The complex consist of three interconnected
units:
A valley temple by the river Nile where the
pharaohs body was embalmed
A pyramid mortuary temple for rituals
A long narrow causeway connecting the two
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
THE SPHINX AT GIZA
Located in Gizais the great Sphinx with the
body of a lion and head of chefren
The reason for its construction is not clear
A theory hold that it was produced from
leftover material
It may also have been carved to stand guard
over the temple and tomb of Chefren
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
Pyramid Construction
How were the pyramids constructed?
There is no accurate knowledge about
the method of construction of the
pyramids
It is believed that 100,000 men worked
3 months each year for 30 years to
build the pyramids
The lime stone used was quarried from
nearby and transported by lever action
They were paid in food, clothing and
drinks
Why did Egyptians Build Pyramids
The pyramids were in general a response to the
vast desert landscapes
For structures to be visible in the desert they
have to be of gargantuan size
The pyramids were also a product of the will to
achieve immortality by the pharaohs
The pyramids are the everlasting home of the
pharaohs ka
End of Pyramid Construction
After the Mykerinus period, the era of pyramid
construction ended
More pyramids were built later but they were
smaller and less complex
Later pharaohs could not also afford the cost of
huge pyramid construction
Grave robbers also learned how to break into and
steal the goods buried with pharaohs
The end of the Old Kingdom therefore marked
the end of the great era of Egyptian pyramid
construction
 MID & NEW KINGDOM BURIAL-CHAM
MORTUARY TEMPLES INTRODUCTION
The Middle Kingdom began when pharaoh Mentuhotep
united Egypt again after the first intermediate period
During the middle kingdom, the practice of pyramid
construction disappeared
Focus in architectural development was however still on
tombs and burial chambers
Two categories of structures came into use-mortuary temples
and underground tombs
Mortuary temples served as the place for the burial and
worship of pharaohs
Temples dedicated to Gods were also located in them
Mortuary temples owe their origin to the pyramid funeral
complex, particular the valley and pyramid temples
Underground tombs became popular because of the belief
that they could not be robbed
 MID & NEW KINGDOM BURIAL-CHAM
MORTUARY TEMPLES INTRODUCTION
Many power and wealthy pharaohs and
noblemen carved their tombs directly into rock
cliffs and underground during the Middle and
New kingdoms
Most of the tomb and burial chamber
construction was carried out at Del Al Bahari
Two mortuary temples were built at Del al Bahari;
mortuary temple of Mentuhotep and Hatshepsut
Mentuhotepwas the first Pharaoh of the middle
kingdom
He built the first mortuary temple at Del-al Bahari
The temple is terraced in two levels
The upper terrace is faced with double
colonnades
At the center is a core believed to have a small
pyramid on top
The pyramid is believed to be a dummy burial
chamber
 NEW KINGDOM CULT TEMPLES
TEMPLE OF KHONS, KARNAK
The temple of Khonsat Karnakis a good
example of a simple New Kingdom Cult Temple
This temple show an example of the
components and organization of a typical
temple
This is dedicated to the God Amun
A person approaching first meets the entrance
wall called pylon
The pylon is higher and wider than the temple
behind it
The pylons were treated with molding and
decorated relief carvings
Mast with royal and religious flags fly in front
of the pylon
Behind the pylon is the peristylecourtyard
Made up of a row of twin colonnades on two or
more sides and was open to the sun
 NEW KINGDOM CULT TEMPLES
TEMPLE OF KHONS, KARNAK
It is the only place where common people were allowed
to enter
Beyond the Peristyle courtyard is the hypostyle hall
Hypostyle means room with many columns.
Peristyle hall and columns painted in bright colors

It is the largest of the New Kingdom temples and it grew

in a haphazard way
Built by at least 16 pharaohs over a period 1700 years
Each pharaoh added either a pylon, courtyard, hypostyle
hall or decorated on parts built by an earlier pharaoh
Queen Hatshepsut, TutmosisII and RamesesII all added to
the temple
The front pylon had two obelisk in front
Apart from the front pylon, the temple had two
additional pylons
NEW KINGDOM CULT TEMPLES
OTHER TEMPLES
 OTHER ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
COLUMNS
Egyptian architecture also developed several unique
architectural elements
Includes Columns, relief carving, and writing, the
obelisk and sphinxes
Egyptian column has its origin in plant materials-the
lotus flower, papyrus plant and the palm tree
Columns were design to imitate the plants
Capitals were designed to resemble a bud or bell form
of a flower
OTHER ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
FLUTED COLUMNS

These columns resemble bundles

of papyrus which were used in
domestic buildings.
 OTHER ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

Clerestory
Windows

Light enters over

the top of the
columns filling the
interior with light.
Colonnade
Palmiform
Columns
Image of goddess
Hathor in Capital

Lotiform Hathoric
Columns Columns
 OTHER ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
PAPYRUS COLUMNS
Lotus

Papyrus

Closed Papyrus Clustered column Open Papyrus closed Papyrus

(Clusterpapyrus bundle, popular in New Kingdom),
OTHER ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
The obelisk is an
element unique to
Egyptian architecture
It was carved as a
monolithic piece of
stone and erected in
front of temples
They were usually
dedicated to a
particular God,
pharaoh or nobleman

Sphinxes are statues with the body of a lion and

the head of the God Horus
They are used to line avenues leading to temples
They are believed to provide protection
They also reinforce the axial planning of the new
kingdom temples
MATERIAL
Three common materials of construction in
Egypt; Plant materials, clay and stone
Plants consist of readily available material like
reeds, papyrus and palm ribs and shaft
Timber was available in limited quantity; used
for roofing
Clay was used for construction either as for
frame construction or as sun dried brick
Stone was not much used during the early
period of ancient Egyptian civilization
It became popular after 3rd dynasty of the Early
Kingdom and was used for tombs & temples
TECHNOLOGIES
Ancient Egyptians contributed to
technologies in the aspect of lighting
Egyptians used courtyards extensively for
lighting
Technology has existed since the ANE
period
The greatest contribution of the Ancient
Egyptians is in the aspect of Clerestory
lighting
In the hypostyle hall of Egyptian temples
is found one of the earliest application of
the clerestory method of lighting
By making columns higher and creating
two roof levels, the ancient Egyptians
were able to admit light into halls
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM
Construction system in ancient Egypt reflected the
availability of materials
Two construction systems were predominant: Adobe
construction and post and beam construction
Adobe construction took the form of clay on vegetable
material or sun dried brick construction
This construction was reserved for houses and other
buildings of daily life
These buildings are supposed to last for only a generation
Egyptian monumental construction is mainly of a post and
beam style
This is expressed mainly in pyramids, tombs and temples
Columns are designed to look like plant material
Their shaft resemble bundles of plant stems tied together
Their capitals are derived from the lotus bud or the
papyrus flower or the palm leave
Great importance was attached to relief carving and it was
an integral part of the architecture
The true arch was not extensively used in ancient Egypt
The principle was however known
Construction in Egypt took place during the period of
floods
It took 20 years to build a pyramid with a team of 20,000
men working three to four months during the floods
 PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURAL ORGANIZATION
EMPHASIS OF BUILDING MASSES
The examination of ancient Egyptian architecture shows more concerned with
massing and limited attention to space or function
The Mastaba, Pyramids, Mortuary and Cult temples all display a focus on massing
and form
There was limited consideration on functional space
Consideration of function in design was limited to provision of spaces for ritual
activities such as chapels dedicated to Gods in Pyramid funeral complexes and
Mortuary and Cult temples
 PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURAL ORGANIZATION
APPLICATION OF LINEAR & GEOMETRY ORG
The Most important compositional principle in ancient Egypt is linearity and axial
organization
Linearity means organization along a line, while axial organization means that there
is a defined axis running through the whole composition
Almost all the predominant monuments have a linear and axial organization
These include the pyramid funerary complexes and the mortuary and cult temples
Egyptian architecture also displays an understanding and application of geometry
in design
This is noticeable in the pyramids at Giza
All the three main pyramids are Geometrical pyramids
A geometric pyramid has a square base and a 52 degree inclination of its sides
All the pyramids are also aligned in a straight line along their axes
This could only have been achieved with the understanding of geometry
 PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURAL ORGANIZATION
APPLICATION OF HARMONY & CONTRAST
Architecture in ancient Egypt also displays understanding of the principle of
Harmony and contrast
Example of this is reflected in the pyramids at Giza
The color and material of the pyramid create a harmony between the pyramids and
the desert
The form and shape of the pyramids however contrast sharply with the smooth
undulating desert
This understanding is also displayed in the temples of Mentuhotepand Hatshepsut
A double row of columns used to front the lower and upper terraces create a
harmony with the rugged background of the mountain cliffs
The terraces of the temples are however in sharp contrast with the mountainous
nature of the environment
The temples appear like an island of peace in a rugged and violent environment
 FORCES SHAPING ARCHITECTURAL ORGANIZATION
INFLUENCE OF DESERT
Ancient Egyptian architecture can only be understood by also looking
at the environment in which it is located
Egypt is essentially located in a desert and the desert is nothing but
empty space
For anything to be visible and considered monumental, it must match
the scale of the desert
This understanding may have influence the architects of ancient
Egypt to focus on building massing and creating the massive buildings
that we have studied
 FORCES SHAPING ARCHITECTURAL ORGANIZATION
INFLUENCE OF NILE
The Nile had an important influence in the linearity and axiality of
ancient Egyptian Architecture
The Nile was a very straight river
The straightness of the line provided the ancient Egyptians with both
a symbolic sense of direction and a principle for application in the
creation of monumental buildings
 FORCES SHAPING ARCHITECTURAL ORGANIZATION
RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL SYMBOLISM
A review of the forces shaping architecture in ancient Egypt will be
incomplete without considering the role of religion and social symbolism
Religion, particularly the belief in life after death was a strong factor in
creating the monumental architecture of ancient Egypt
The tombs and the temples are all a factor of the desire to achieve
immortality or appease Egyptian Gods Social symbolism also played a part
in shaping ancient Egyptian architecture
Egyptian society is segregated with pharaohs, noblemen and commoners
The desire to build massive tombs and temples by pharaohs and noblemen
is a way to express their social standing in society
Put in another way, the buildings are an expression of the power, authority
and social standing of the nobles and pharaohs who built them