This slide covers all basic topics of Egyptian architecture.

1. EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
PRESENTED BY-
ANANYA SREYANSRI NANDA
3RD YEAR
B.ARCH
VSSUT,BURLA

2. INTRODUCTION
1. Egyptian architecture is one of the most amazing architecture in the
world.
2. The ancient Egyptians believed on tradition and religious rites and
hence reproduced it in their architecture-tombs and temples.
3. They worshipped heavenly bodies like the sun, moon, stars, and
animals as embodiment of gods.
4. They believed in life after death.

3. GEOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL
CONDITION.
A. GEOGRAPHICAL-
1. Egypt lies in the valley of River Nile.
2. It varies from a strip of a fertile lend to arid region to a vast desert.
3. Lower northern part- Mediterranean sea.
4. Eastern part- Red sea.
5. Egypt borders-
a. Libya to the west.
b. Gaza Strip to the north east.
c. Sudan to the south.

4. GEOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL
CONDITION
B. GEOLOGICAL-
1. The available building materials determines the character of
architecture in Egypt.
2. Materials available-
a. Rich clay was available in Nile delta.
b. Sun dried bricks were used in buildings.
c. Sun dried bricks were made out of clay, palm leaves and
reeds.
d. other materials- lime stone, stone, sandstone, etc.

5. EGYPTIAN GODS
The Egyptian Gods were frequently associated in Triads –
1. Great Theban Triad:
a. Amon: King God
b. Ra: Sun God
c. Mut: Mother God
d. Khons: Moon God
2. Memphis Triad:
a. Ptah: Creator
b. Sekhmet: War Goddess
c. Nefertem: Their son
3. Other powerful gods:
a. Horus: the sky god
b. Hathor: love goddess
c. Set: evil god
d. Serapis: bull god
e. Thoth: god of intelligence

6. SOCIAL CONDITION:
1. Believed in astronomy
2. Named and mapped the stars
3. Studied about movement of heavenly bodies
4. Invented a 365 days calendar
5. Developed medicine and surgery
6. Had skill in pottery, metal making, weaving and jewellery
7. Staple food- wheat and barley

7. HISTORICAL CONDITION
1. The Pharaohs practiced religious rites, encouraged arts and literature,
handicrafts and maintained general welfare.
2. They had thirty dynasties.
3. They developed the art of writing and hieroglyphic system.
4. Tombs – Mastabas, Pyramids, Sphnix
5. They had relief works that shows the grandeur of sun worshipping
ceremony.

8. CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
1. Column and beam based architecture
2. Main buildings- tombs and temples
3. Had massive walls
4. Sun dried mud bricks
5. Reeds, papyrus and palm
6. One or two storey buildings

9. CHARACTERISTICS FEATURES
7. Broad walls at base
8. Temples- rectangular plan, pillared court, chapels and hypostyle hall
9. Hieroglyphs were famous in Egyptian temples
10. Temples had obelisks at front and a row of sphinxes
11. The orientation of temples were usually towards Nile

10. ENIGMA OF EGYPT
1. Mastabas
2. Pyramids
3. Temples

11. MASTABAS
1. Mastaba means a bench
2. The noblemen were buried there
3. Famous mastaba- Aha at Saqqara (contained the sarcophagus)
4. Some other examples- Mastabas at Giza

12. PYRAMIDS
1. The royal men were buried in pyramids
2. Built for pharaohs as massive and impregnable tombs
3. There are three basic types of pyramids –
a. Bent pyramid
b. Step pyramid
c. Regular pyramid
4. Examples
a. the great pyramid of Cheops at Giza
b. The pyramid of Chefren or Khafra at Giza
c. The pyramid of Mykerinos or Menkaura at Giza

13. TEMPLES
1. Based on rectangular plan
2. Two types of temples –
a. Mortuary
b. Cult
3. Mortuary –
a. Series of rooms
b. Pillared court
c. Hypostyle hall
d. Chapel
4. Cult –
a. Fronted by obelisks
b. Tall monumental gateway

14. THANK YOU