32 Ancient Egyptian Monuments
Learning Objective
- Describe the impressive attributes of the monuments erected by Egyptians in the Old Kingdom
Key Points
- Ancient Egyptian architects carefully planned buildings, aligning them with astronomically significant events, such as solstices and equinoxes, and used mainly sun-baked mud brick, limestone, sandstone, and granite.
- Egyptian pyramids were highly reflective, referenced the sun, and were usually placed on the West side of the Nile River.
- About 135 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt, with the largest (in Egypt and the world) being the Great Pyramid of Giza.
- The Great Sphinx of Giza is a reclining sphinx (a mythical creature with a lion’s body and a human head); its face is meant to represent the Pharaoh Khafra. It is the world’s oldest and largest monolith.
- Egyptian temples were used for official, formal worship of the gods by the state, and to commemorate pharaohs. The temple was the house of a particular god, and Egyptians would perform rituals, give offerings, re-enact myths, and keep order in the universe (ma’at).
- The Temple of Karnak was first built in the 16th century BCE. About 30 pharaohs contributed to the buildings, creating an extremely large and diverse complex.
- The Luxor Temple was constructed in the 14th century BCE by Amenhotep III in the ancient city of Thebes, now Luxor. It later received a major expansion by Ramesses II in the 13th century BCE.
Terms
monolith
A large single upright block of stone, especially one shaped into, or serving as, a pillar or monument.
friezes
Broad, horizontal bands of sculpted or painted decoration.
pylon
In ancient Egypt, two tapering towers with a less elevated section between them, forming a gateway.
peristyle courts
In ancient Egypt, courts that open to the sky.
Hypostyle halls
In ancient Egypt, covered rooms with columns.
equinoxes
Either of the two times in the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator, and day and night are of equal length.
solstices
Either of the two times in the year (summer and winter) when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon.
ma’at
The ancient Egyptian concept of truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality and justice.
obelisks
Stone pillars, typically having a square or rectangular cross section and pyramidal top, used as monuments or landmarks.
Ancient Egyptian architects carefully planned buildings, aligning them with astronomically significant events, such as solstices and equinoxes. They used mainly sun-baked mud brick, limestone, sandstone, and granite. Stone was reserved for tombs and temples, while other buildings, such as palaces and fortresses, were made of bricks.
Pyramids
Egyptian pyramids referenced the rays of the sun, and appeared highly polished and reflective, with a capstone that was generally a hard stone like granite, sometimes plated with gold, silver or electrum. Most were placed west of the Nile, to allow the pharaoh’s soul to join with the sun during