The document provides an overview of ancient Egyptian art from the Early Dynastic Period through the Ptolemaic Period. Some key points include: Egyptians built elaborate tombs for kings and queens containing mummified remains and objects for the afterlife; the stepped pyramid of Djoser was an early form that evolved into the iconic Great Pyramids of Giza; other important artistic works include the funerary mask of Tutankhamun, Nefertiti bust, and the Rosetta Stone which helped decode hieroglyphics.

1. Art of
Ancient Egypt

3. Ancient Egyptian Periods (3100 – 30 BCE)
Early Dynastic
Old Kingdom
First Intermediate Period
Middle Kingdom
Second Intermediate Period
New Kingdom
Third Intermediate Period
Late Period
Ptolemaic Period

4. The Afterlife
Egyptians built tombs for their Kings and Queens –
styles vary from a flat “mastaba” to a “stepped
pyramid” to the “pyramid” form
Tombs contained the mummified body of the King
or Queen, their pets, and many objects for their
next life
Egyptians believed in Eternal Life (Life After Death)
- “Ka” or spirit lives on after death of body

5. Stepped Pyramid of Djoser
Architecture (Tomb made from Limestone) 62 Meters Tall
2630 – 2575 BCE

6. Stepped Pyramid of Djoser
Built as a Tomb for King Djoser
Burial Chamber below ground
Designed by Prime Minister,
Imhotep
Part of a Complex of Buildings

7. Great Pyramids of Giza
Architecture (tombs) 2613 – 2494 BCE
Tallest Pyramid – Khufu 137 Meters Tall

8. Great Pyramids of Giza
Built as Tombs for King
Mankaura, King Khafre
and King Khufu
Pyramids contained “false
passageways” to fool
potential thieves and looters
Mystery how it was built,
but we are beginning to
understand the process
For centuries, people didn’t
know what the pyramids
were

10. The Great Sphinx
King Khafra commissioned many portraits of
himself, including The Great Sphinx

11. Khafre
King wears royal clothing,
including a head dress in the
shape of a cobra (represents the
sun god) and a fake beard
Conveys dignity, calmness, and
permanence
Carved from a rare stone,
Anorthosite Gneiss, which glows a
deep blue in sunlight (celestial
color of Horus, the falcon God who
protects the King)
Khafre, ruled c2520 – 2494
BCE, Carved Anorthosite
Gneiss

12. Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun

13. Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun
Entrance to King Tut’s Tomb discovered in
1922 by English archaeologist Howard
Carter
Western architects, designers, and artists
inspired by Egyptian art after the
discovery
Tomb filled with treasures (inner tomb
chamber hadn’t been opened since his
burial)
King Tut died at the age of 18 (mystery –
illness? accident?)
Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun,
1322 BCE, Gold inlaid with glass
and semiprecious stones,
height 54 cm

14. Inner Coffin of Tutankhamen’s
Sarcophagus

15. Nefertiti

16. NefertitiBust portrait of Queen Nefertiti
Found in the studio of an Egyptian sculptor
(Tutmose) – Possibly used as a model to follow in
other images of the Queen
Egyptian beauty ideal – long neck, heavy eyelids,
makeup
Dramatic use of color – dark blue headdress with
a striped band of color – gold, red, green
Tutmose, Nefertiti,
1353 – 1336 BCE,
Painted Limestone,
Height 51 cm

17. Hieroglyphics – Egyptian Writing

18. Rosetta Stone

19. Rosetta Stone
Fragment of an Ancient Egyptian stele
originally displayed in a temple
Engraved text provides key to
understanding Egyptian hieroglyphic
writing
Decree issued by King Ptolemy V:
top part – ancient hieroglyphics
middle part – Egyptian demotic writing
lower part – ancient Greek writing
Discovered by French soldier in 1799 on
French Expedition to Egypt (led by
French Emperor Napolean)
Stone later came under possession of
British – now in British Museum, but Egypt
has requested its return
Rosetta Stone, 196 BCE

20. Akhenaten and his Family
Akhenaten and his Family, Limestone relief, 1350 BCE

21. Akhenaten and his Family
Royal Family Portrait
(King Akhenaten on left, Queen Nefertiti
on the right, 3 of their daughters)
Sunken relief - flat surface is raised, but
image is deeply carved
Hieroglyphics in background

22. Queen Nefertari Making
an Offering to Isis
Wall Painting in the
Tomb of Nefertari
1279 – 1213 BCE

23. Queen Nefertari Making
an Offering to Isis
Queen holding pots filled with
perfumed ointment (preparing for her
death)
Isis is the Goddess of Funerals
Nefertari wears a Vulture head dress
Hieroglyphics in background

24. Palette of Narmer

25. Palette of NarmerStone Palette possibly used for
ceremonies, represents palette used for
mixing eye makeup
King Narmer on front and back
King Narmer wears the White Crown of
Upper Egypt
King holds the conquered figure
(represents conquering Lower Egypt)
Horus (falcon god) holds a rope tied around
the neck of a man (symbolizes
conquered Lower Egypt)
Hierarchy of figures (level of importance)
Palette of Narmer, Early Dynastic Period,
2950 – 2775 BCE, Green schist (stone relief),
(63.5 cm tall)

27. Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt

28. Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt
Relief Carving from Tomb of Ti,
Saqqara
Ti was a court official
Surveying Hippo hunts was a duty of
court officials
Ti stands in a boat on the Nile River
– water is represented by wavy lines
Hippos were thought to be
destructive since they wandered into
fields, damaging crops
Symbolizes victory of good over
evil
Ti Watching a Hippopotamus Hunt,
2450 – 2325 BCE, Dynasty 5,
Painted Limestone Relief

29. Comparison