Egypt Culture And Costume

TABLE OF CONTENTS
i. Ancient Egypt
ii. Geography Section
iii. Architecture Section
iv. Pyramids
v. Sculpture of Ancient Egypt
vi. Painting of Ancient Egypt
vii. Clothing components
viii. Religious Beliefs
ix. Egyptian Writing
x. Culture Identity
xi. Conclusion
xii. Summary
xiii. Egyptian Motif

Ancient Egypt
A land of mysteries, No other civilization has so captured the imagination of scholars and
laypeople alike. Mystery surrounds its origins, its religion and its monumental architecture:
colossal temples, pyramids and the enormous Sphinx. The Egyptian pyramids are the most
famous of all the ancient monuments, the only remaining wonder of the seven wonders of the
ancient world.
Just as life arose from the waters, the seeds of civilization were first sown along the banks of
the Nile. This mighty river, which flows north from the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean
Sea, nourished the growth of the pharaonic kingdom. The long, narrow flood plain was a
magnet for life, attracting people, animals and plants to its banks. In pre-dynastic times,
nomadic hunters settled in the valley and began to grow crops to supplement their food
supply. Seen as a gift from the gods, the annual flooding of the river deposited nutrient rich
silt over the land, creating ideal conditions for growing wheat, flax and other crops. The first
communal project of this fledgling society was the building of irrigation canals for
agricultural purposes.
The sun was a principal deity whose passage across the sky represented the eternal cycle of
birth, death and rebirth. The pharaohs were seen as gods, divine representatives on earth who,
through rituals, ensured the continuation of life. After death, they became immortal, joining
the gods in the afterworld.
The Egyptians also believed that the body and soul were important to human existence, in life
and in death. Their funerary practices, such as mummification and burial in tombs, were
designed to assist the deceased find their way in the afterworld. The tombs were filled with
food, tools, domestic wares, treasures all the necessities of life -- to ensure the soul's return to
the body so that the deceased would live happily ever after.
The most imposing tombs are the famous pyramids, shaped like the sacred mound where the
gods first appeared in the creation story. These were incredibly ambitious projects, the largest
structures ever built. Their construction was overseen by highly skilled architects and
engineers. Paid laborers moved the massive limestone blocks without the use of wheels,
horses or iron tools. The conscripts may have been motivated by a deep faith in the divinity

of their leaders and a belief in immortality. Perhaps they thought that their contributions
would improve their own prospects at the final judgment in the afterworld.
The gigantic pyramids were conspicuous targets for tomb robbers, whose plundering
jeopardized the hope for eternal life. Subsequent generations of kings hid their tombs in the
Valley of the Kings in an attempt to elude the robbers. In the desert valley near the ancient
capital of Thebes, now called Luxor, they prepared their royal tombs by cutting into the side
of the mountain. Despite efforts to hide the entrances, thieves managed to find the tombs,
pillaging and emptying them of their treasures.
One tomb was spared, however: Tutankhamen’s. Although his resting place was disturbed
twice by robbers, the entrance was resealed and remained hidden for over 3,000 years. Its
discovery by the British archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922 is considered the greatest
archaeological find in history. Carter spent the rest of his life working on the tomb, removing
its treasures to Cairo, and documenting and studying its contents, including the pharaoh's
gold coffins and mask. Tutankhamen’s mummy remains in his tomb, the only pharaoh to be
left in the Valley of the Kings.
Today, Egyptian archaeologists are still making important discoveries, and the scientific
study of royal mummies is shedding new light on the genealogy of the pharaohs. The ongoing
deciphering of hieroglyphic writings and research on the life of the peasants are also
answering many questions related to the evolution of Egyptian culture. The pharaonic
religion gives the impression that the Egyptians were preoccupied with death; however, there
are ample indications that they were a happy lot who knew how to enjoy life.
Geography Section
Just as life arose from the waters of the primeval sea, so the waters of the Nile gave birth to
the pharaonic kingdom. A gift to the people of Egypt, the longest river in the world flows
north from the heart of Africa to the Mediterranean Sea. Its flood plain was an extensive
oasis, a magnet for life -- human, plant and animal. Humans were drawn there because they
could grow crops and settle into permanent villages. The annual flooding of the Nile
deposited nutrient rich silt on the land, creating all the ingredients needed to support life and
the growth of a great civilization.

Bounded on the south, east and west by an impenetrable desert and on the north by the sea,
ancient Egypt was protected from outside influences, which allowed it to evolve in its own
unique way. The Nile Delta is the only delta in Egypt and is 100 miles long and 155 miles
wide. It is in the shape of a triangle. There are 5 important oases in Egypt and they are all
located in the Libyan Desert. They are the Farafirah, Bahriah, Dakhilia, Kharijah, and the
Siwah oases. The climate in Egypt is hot and dry and there are only two seasons which are
winter (December through March), and summer (the rest of the year). The average
temperature in the winter is between 55 and 70 degrees F. The average temperature in the
summer is between 80 and 90 degrees F. In the summer the temperature can be as high as 110
degrees F.
Architecture Section
The ancient Egyptians built their pyramids, tombs, temples and palaces out of stone, the most
durable of all building materials. Although earthquakes, wars and the forces of nature have
taken their toll, the remains of Egypt's monumental architectural achievements are visible
across the land, a tribute to the greatness of this civilization. These building projects took a
high degree of architectural and engineering skill, and the organization of a large workforce
consisting of highly trained craftsmen and laborers.

Apart from the pyramids, Egyptian buildings were decorated with paintings, carved stone
images, hieroglyphs and three-dimensional statues. The art tells the story of the pharaohs, the
gods, the common people and the natural world of plants, birds and animals. The beauty and
grandeur of these sites are beyond compare. How the ancient Egyptians were able to
construct these massive structures using primitive tools is still a mystery.
Pyramids
The spectacular pyramids that have made Egypt so famous are truly one of the world's
greatest architectural wonders. One of the oldest mysteries surrounding ancient Egypt
concerns the building of the pyramids. How did humans move such massive blocks of stone
using only Stone Age tools? The Egyptians left thousands of illustrations depicting daily life
in the Old Kingdom. Curiously enough, none of them show how pyramids were built.
A pyramid is a tomb, a four-sided stone structure that symbolizes the sacred mountain,
humanity's universal striving to reach the heavens. The ancient belief in raising the human
spirit towards the gods is the quintessential purpose behind the construction of pyramids.
Even today, pyramids are metaphors for humanity's search for higher consciousness.

Sculpture Section
"The message of the work of art had to be clear: everyone from scribes to peasants had to
understand at first glance that the great image of the pharaoh was a sign of his limitless
power."
Most art work was done for the pharaoh or his wealthy government officials. The large
works of sculpture were often displayed at temples, which the pharaoh would build to their
favorite deity. Sculptures were stiff, formal, and solemn. The Egyptians did not strive for
realistic depiction, but instead wanted to present a powerful image. Egyptians used the size
of their sculptures to show the social order. The pharaoh was larger than life size, scribes and
court officials were life size, and workers and peasants always shown working. Many of the
smaller statues were constructed out of slate which allowed them to survive over time, while
the enormity of other sculptures helped them to survive. The Great Sphinx was carved out of
a rock outcropping with the paws added on later from separate rocks.
Colossus of Memphis Canopic jars
Great sphinx Sphinx luxar colossi of ramses 2 abu simbel

Painting Section
Most of the painting of Ancient Egypt that has survived was found in tombs of the pharaohs
or high governmental officials. The art is known as funerary art because it is in tombs and
depicts scenes of the afterlife. Tomb paintings were of everyday life until the New Kingdom
about 1550 BC to 1020 BC. During the New Kingdom the paintings showed different levels
of the Egyptian society as well as items the deceased would need in the afterlife. (Marceau,
1997) For example servants, boats, and food would be painted to help the deceased in their
trip through the afterlife.
"To assist the dead person in his or her transition before the tribunal of Osiris was the Book of
the Dead, a roll of papyrus containing religious and magical text."
This and other items left in the tomb would assist the deceased in their journey in the
afterlife.
Much of the Egyptian painting was a mixture of sculpted reliefs which were painted.
Meaning the Egyptians would first carve the rock and then paint the scene over the carved
surface. Egyptian depiction of people is very consistent in their proportions and views of the
people. The reason is that the Egyptians used a formula to paint people.
"Egyptians artists used this method to keep figures in proportion. They divided a sheet of
papyrus into nineteen rows of squares. Then they drew the figure using the first three rows of
squares for the area between the forehead and the neck, the next for the shoulder to the knee,
and the last six for the lower limbs and feet."
(Romei, 1995) In this way human paintings from different artist over a long period of time
retained the same appearance.

Clothing Components
The Egyptians cared about their appearance which indicated a person’s status, role in a society or
political significance.
Clothes based on two elements:
1. The wrapped kilt of men
2. The sewed kalasaris (a sewed sheath which developed into a shirt) of women, which by the
New Kingdom, became incorporated into men's dress as well.
Headdress
Wigs were worn by men and women of high society.
The primary function of the wig was as a headdress for special occasions, such as
ceremonies and banquets.
Wigs were made of curled long hair separated into three parts, the so-called goddress.
Peasant women tied and decorated their head with flowers and inexpensive linen ribbons.
children decorated their heads with amulets of small fish to protect from the dangers of the
Nile
Materials
Textiles were made of linen, a light airy fabric suitable in hot and humid climates.
Wool was considered unclean, and not to be worn in temples by priests
Some silk were traded with Asia from 2000 BC and traces of silk have been found in Egyptian
tombs
Prestigious leopard skins, were reserved for priests and pharaohs, and worn during religious
festivals
Personal Care
Men were always clean-shaven, they used razors made from bronze to shave their beards
and heads.
Bathing - using rubbing oils and perfumes applied into the skin
Cosmetic implements applied by the rich nobility
A dye called henna was used by women to redden their nails and lips.
Ancient Clothing of Old Kingdom
Male Noble
- Simple short kilt - white color
- Small necklace
- Short curled hair covering the ears
- Barefooted

Female Noble
- Kalasaris - a simple transparent long dress
- Large wig
- Barefooted
Priest
- Long white robes with a strap over one shoulder
- Leopard skins
- Leopard skin sandals
- Clean shaven heads and body - hair was considered impure
- Washed several times a day for purity.
Male Farmer
- Short Kilt
- Short curled hair covering the ears
- Barefooted
Female Peasants
- Simple straight linen skirt, from under the breast
- Bare breasted
- Short hair trimmed below the ears
- Barefooted

Ancient Clothing of Middle Kingdom
Male Noble
- Kilt lengthened
- Transparent overskirt
- Collars
- Barefooted
Female Noble
- Kalasaris - a simple transparent long dress
- Large wig
- Barefooted
Priests
- Long white robes with a strap over one shoulder
- Leopard skins
Male Farmer
- Long Kilt
- Short hair with ears visible
- Barefooted

Female Peasants
- Simple straight linen skirt, from under the breast
- Bare breasted
- Short hair trimmed below the ears
- Barefooted
Ancient Clothing of New Kingdom
Male Noble
- Simplicity gone
- Elaborate pleated garment
- Use of color
- Embroidery
- Broad collars
- Kalasaris worn by men
- Leather sandals with extended toes
- Wig and perfumed cone
- False beard where made of leather or metal, and reserved for the Pharaoh
Female Noble
- Elaborate gown
- Beaded yoke collar
- Bracelets around the wrist
- fluted transparent linen
- Cosmetics and Perfumes
- Wig and hair ornaments
- Kohl (a black dye) lines the eyebrows

Priests
Long white robes with a strap over one shoulder
- Leopard skins
Male Farmer
- Long Kilt
- Short hair with ears visible
- Barefooted
Female peasants
- Long linen Kalasaris
- Long unplaited hair
- Jewelry and necklaces made of pottery beads
- Barefooted
Childrens
-Naked until puberty
- Head was shaved off except for a long lock of hair left on the side of the head,
this s-shaped lock was depicted by the hieroglyphic symbol of a child or youth.
Both girls and boys wore this style until the onset of puberty. Older boys often
shaved their heads, while girls had ponytails hanging down the center of the
back

Religious Beliefs
Creation Myth - The Egyptians created myths to try to explain their place in the cosmos
Ancient Gods - The Pantheon consisted of More than 2000 gods. Most had only a local cult center
Mummification - Preservation of body was paramount, for without it the soul would be lost forever
The Soul - Egyptians believed that the human soul was composed of two parts the Ba and the Ka
Afterlife - Tombs were often visited by the family with new offerings.
Magic And Symbols - An integral part of the religion, spells were mainly used for protection
purposes
Egyptian Sacred Texts
Pyramid Texts - used in the Old Kingdom, and written in hieroglyphics, these texts were carved
inside pyramid walls from the 5th and 6th Dynasties.
Coffin Texts - used in the Middle Kingdom and written in hieratic, more Spells were added with time,
and the texts were carved in wooden coffins
Book Of The Dead - New Kingdom spells, written on sheets of papyrus covered with magical texts,
and accompanying illustrations called vignettes
Old Kingdom (Ra sun god, Pyramid Texts in Unas pyramid - 5th Dynasty)
5th Dynasty - The sun cult is promoted. A sun temple is built at Abu Ghorub as well as a small
pyramid at Saqqara.
The worship of Ra, the great sun god, chief of the cosmic deities, was perhaps more closely related
to the fate of the royal house than to that of the people, but his cult was nevertheless one of the
most important in ancient Egypt. His symbol the pyramid became the design of the monumental
tombs of the Egyptian Pharaohs. Ra was said, in fact, to be the direct ancestor of the Pharaohs of
Egypt, and in certain hymns was even addressed as a dead Pharaoh. But he was more specifically
thought of as a living power, whose daily cycle of birth, journey, and death was a fundamental
theme in Egyptian life.
Middle Kingdom (11th Dynasty Mentu - Ra cult, 12th Dynasty Sobek in Fayum , Coffin
Texts)
A new religious literature appeared when Coffin Texts replaced Pyramid Texts.
These texts were painted on coffins rather than pyramid walls. They were non-royal texts used by
many classes of society, and reflect the increasing spread of Egyptian funerary beliefs between all
classes.

New Kingdom (Amun combined with Ra became major cult, Earliest examples of the Book of
The Dead in 1500 BC, monotheism of Aten but quickly reverted)
By the 18th Dynasty Amun the local god of Thebes, became Egypt's greatest god, united with Ra as
Amun - Ra. The high priests of Amun gain power and challenge Pharaonic authority by the late 20th
Dynasty.
During the reign of Akhenaten, who based his theology on the solar god Aten and denied recognition
to all but that god, a monotheistic cult was established. That unique cult apparently proved
unsatisfactory to the Egyptians, after Akhenaten death, polytheism was restored.
Egyptian Writing
A Complex writing system
consisting of thousands of
pictural symbols
Very few people were literate
in ancient Egypt
Papyrus manufacture was a
costly and complicated
process.
Hierogylphic writing was
abandoned in the 5th century
A.D.
Cultural Identity
Children - were precious to ancient Egyptians, great rejoicing always followed the birth of a baby
Clothes - Elite Egyptians cared about their appearance and clothing which indicated their social
status
Domestic Trade - Small scale commerce in the hands of ordinary men and their wives
Family - Strong emphasis on the nuclear family unit
Festivals - Most ceremonies were cultic, rather than civil
Food - When Egyptians evolved from hunters to settled farmers, a revolution occurred in food
production and diet.
Houses - The typical house was square in shape and consisted of at least three rooms
Sports - games were practiced widely by the general population for fitness and entertainment
Women - Compared to other areas of the ancient world, they held stronger social positions and
expanded legal rights
Conclusion

Egyptian art and architecture have a strong reflection of the culture from which they were
produced. The power of the pharaoh and his position in society is clearly reflected in the
large projects that they were able to complete. The pharaoh was the center of the Egyptian
society.
Summary
Ancient Egypt was a glorious civilization which lasted approximately 3,000 years. Upper and
Lower Egypt were unified by King Menes, and he ushered in the 1st Dynasty. The inundation
of the Nile River would bring a rich alluvial deposit of fertile black silt over the croplands
sustaining their civilization, and this allowed the Egyptians to benefit greatly. Their kings
were seen as divine mediators between the gods/goddesses and populace of Egypt.
Magnificent monuments such as pyramids, sphinxes, obelisks and temple complexes were
erected and they are all a testament to this illustrious civilization and many have succumbed
to its magnetism. Most of the painting of Ancient Egypt that has survived was found in
tombs of the pharaohs or high governmental officials.
The spectacular pyramids that have made Egypt so famous are truly one of the world's
greatest architectural wonders. One of the oldest mysteries surrounding ancient Egypt
concerns the building of the pyramids. How did humans move such massive blocks of stone
using only Stone Age tools? The Egyptians left thousands of illustrations depicting daily life
in the Old Kingdom. Curiously enough, none of them show how pyramids were built.
Egyptians painting was a mixture of sculpted reliefs which were painted. Egyptians would first
carve the rock and then paint the scene over the carved surface.
Most art work was done for the pharaoh or his wealthy government officials, which the
pharaoh would build to their favorite deity. Sculptures were stiff, formal, and solemn. The
valley contains hundreds of tombs, many of which have yet to be excavated and others that
have not yet been found. The most famous tomb belongs to the boy king Tutankhamen.
The Valley of the Kings is famous for its royal tombs. These beautifully painted tombs have
been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Egyptian archaeologists are still making important discoveries, and the scientific study of
royal mummies is shedding new light on the genealogy of the pharaohs. The ongoing
deciphering of hieroglyphic writings and research on the life of the peasants are also
answering many questions related to the evolution of Egyptian culture. The pharaonic
religion gives the impression that the Egyptians were preoccupied with death; however, there
are ample indications that they were a happy lot who knew how to enjoy life.

Egypt Culture And Costume

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