Monuments of Ancient Egypt
- Pyramids. Pyramid building in ancient Egypt began with Djoser in the Third Dynasty (around 2650 B.C, orthodox chronology) and is most associated with the Old Kingdom.
- Mastabas. ...
- Rock Cut Tombs
- Temples. ...
- Palaces. ...
- Statues
- Architecture
- Prehistoric Sites
What are some ancient Egyptian monuments?
Top 10 Great Monuments Of Ancient Egypt
- Valley of the Kings. The valley of Kings in the West bank of Nile was the principal burial place of pharaohs of New Kingdom of ancient Egypt (1539 B.C ...
- Temple of Hatshepsut. Temple of Hatshepsut also known as Deir el-Bahr temple located opposite to Luxor city, near valey of Kings.
- Medinet Habu. ...
- Pyramid of Djoser. ...
- Luxor Temple. ...
- Karnak Temple. ...
Who were some famous people in ancient Egypt?
Top 10 Most Famous People of Egypt
- Moses. Moses was a religious leader in Egypt in 1391 BC. ...
- Ibn Khaldun. Ibn Khaldun was a historiographer and historian. ...
- Maimonides. Maimonides was a very well-known Jewish philosopher. ...
- Ankhesenamun. Egyptian queens were more popular than their male counterparts. ...
- Akhenaten. ...
- Cleopatra. ...
- Hatshepsut. ...
- Nefertiti. ...
- Ramses II. ...
- Tutankhamun. ...
Who were important people in ancient Egypt?
Who were 3 important people in ancient Egypt?
- Djoser (reign 2686 BC – 2649 BC)
- Khufu (reign 2589 ‒ 2566 BC)
- Hatshepsut (reign 1478–1458 BC)
- Thutmose III (reign 1458–1425 BC)
- Amenhotep III (reign 1388–1351 BC)
- Akhenaten (reign 1351–1334 BC)
- Tutankhamun (reign 1332–1323 BC)
- Ramses II (reign 1279–1213 BC) Who was the most famous female in Egyptian history? 23 Egyptian Women Who Made History Cleopatra. ...
Where is Meroe located in ancient Egypt?
Where is Meroe located in ancient Egypt? Meroe, city of ancient Cush (Kush) the ruins of which are located on the east bank of the Nile about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Kabūshīyah in the present-day Sudan; Meroe is also the name of the area surrounding the city. What made Meroe different from Egyptian ]
What monuments did the ancient Egypt have?
Below you'll find a list of eleven of the greatest monuments Ancient Egypt has to offer.Karnak Temple.The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. ... The Bent Pyramid and Red Pyramid of Sneferu. ... Luxor Temple. ... The Step Pyramid of Djoser. ... Temple of Edfu. ... The Valley of The Kings. ... The Colossi of Memnon. The Colossi of Memnon, Luxor. ... More items...•
How did ancient Egyptians build the monuments?
The two principal building materials used in ancient Egypt were unbaked mud brick and stone. From the Old Kingdom (c. 2575–2130 bce) onward, stone was generally used for tombs—the eternal dwellings of the dead—and for temples—the eternal houses of the gods.
What are the kinds of structures built by the Egyptian?
The ancient Egyptians built their pyramids, tombs, temples and palaces out of stone, the most durable of all building materials.
Why did ancient Egyptians build monuments?
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).
What is Egypts most famous monument?
Pyramids of GizaPyramids of Giza Located on the Giza Plateau just outside Cairo, the pyramids are Egypt's best known monuments and the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World.
What were the 2 most important types of Egyptian architecture?
The two most important types of Egyptian architecture were pyramids and temples. Both were built to honor important figures in Egyptian society: pharaohs and gods.
What are Egyptian statues called?
A ka statue is a type of ancient Egyptian statue intended to provide a resting place for the ka (life-force or spirit) of the person after death.
What are five examples of buildings of ancient Egypt?
The following is a list of ten examples of ancient Egyptian architecture.Abu Simbel Temples. A tourist admiring the sculptures at the Abu Simbel. ... Colossi of Memnon. The Colossi of Memnon. ... Great Pyramid of Giza. ... Great Sphinx of Giza. ... Karnak Temple. ... Luxor Temple. ... Pyramid of Djoser. ... Temple of Edfu.More items...•
What is Egyptian architecture called?
Egyptian architecture Architecture developed since 3000 bc and characterized by post and lintel construction, massive walls covered with hieroglyphic and pictorial carving, flat roofs, and structures such as the mastaba, obelisk, pylon and the Pyramids.
What is the oldest Egyptian monument?
The Sphinx is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt and one of the most recognisable statues in the world. The archaeological evidence suggests that it was created by ancient Egyptians of the Old Kingdom during the reign of Khafre ( c. 2558–2532 BC).
Who built the Egyptian monuments?
The pyramids in Giza were built over the span of three generations – by Khufu, his second reigning son Khafre, and Menkaure. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the oldest and sole remnant of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
What are 3 Egyptian inventions?
This civilization has been credited with MANY inventions that really changed the world and are still used today. Some of the inventions include writing (hieroglyphics), ink, make up, advancement in medicine, toothpaste, door lock, plow, calendar, and sundial to name a few.
How did the Egyptians build the pyramids?
The most plausible one is that the Egyptians employed a sloping and encircling embankment of brick, earth, and sand, which was increased in height and length as the pyramid rose; stone blocks were hauled up the ramp by means of sledges, rollers, and levers.
Who built the Egyptian monuments?
The pyramids in Giza were built over the span of three generations – by Khufu, his second reigning son Khafre, and Menkaure. The Great Pyramid of Khufu is the oldest and sole remnant of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
How did Egyptians build temples?
Temple structures were built on foundations of stone slabs set into sand-filled trenches. In most periods, walls and other structures were built with large blocks of varying shape. The blocks were laid in courses, usually without mortar.
How did the Egyptians build?
“Using a sled which carried a stone block and was attached with ropes to these wooden posts, ancient Egyptians were able to pull up the alabaster blocks out of the quarry on very steep slopes of 20 percent or more.”
What did the ancient Egyptians build?
The ancient Egyptians were extremely accomplished builders, almost unmatched in their use of stone to build enduring monuments. On this page you will find links to pages about pyramids, mastabas, rock cut tombs, temples, palaces, and statues.
What were the temples of the Egyptians?
Egyptians temples were seen as the houses of the gods to whom they were dedicated, and were the focal point of the rituals and festivals associated with those gods. Temples of Nekhen (Hierakonpolis) Dendera Temple Complex. Kom Ombo Temple. Luxor Temple.
Why did the Egyptians build palaces?
Palaces. Because the ancient Egyptians built their tombs and temples of stone and often located them away from the banks of the Nile (but built their homes and palaces of mudbrick and often located them closer to the river) we know a great deal more about these structures. However, there are exceptions to this rule.
What are mastabas made of?
Mastabas were often built from mudbrick, which has a tendency to degrade over time. As a result we know that there were mastabas in many other locations (such as Abydos) but they have not survived the ravages of time. Luckily, some of the mastabas at Giza and Saqqara were built from stone and so they have endured.
What is the name of the tomb in Egypt?
The name “mastaba” derives from the Arabic for “bench” as these tombs resemble a large bench when viewed from a distance. A rectangular structure (with its length commonly being about four times its width) covered and protected a deep trench which held the burial and burial provisions of the deceased. This form of tomb was favoured by the Predynastic and Early Dynastic pharaohs but was rarely used for royal burials after the development of the pyramid by Djoser’s architect, Imhotep during the Old Kingdom. However, the mastaba remained popular with non-royal Egyptians.
How many pyramids are there in Egypt?
In addition to the pyramids of the major sites there are also seven small pyramids (also known as “minor step pyramids”) scattered along the edge of the Nile which are dated to the third and fourth dynasties. Saqarra. Step Pyramid of Djoser. Abusir. Pyramid Complex of Sahure.
When were pyramids built?
Pyramids. Pyramid building in ancient Egypt began with Djoser in the Third Dynasty (around 2650 B.C, orthodox chronology) and is most associated with the Old Kingdom. The most famous examples are the pyramids of Giza and in particular the Great Pyramid. However, pyramids were erected by a number of the pharaohs during the Middle Kingdom.
What is the most unique monument in Egypt?
The Great Sphinx at Giza is Ancient Egypt’s most unique monument. Its speculated 4th Dynasty Pharaoh Khafre built the mythical creature from a massive rock by adding his face and giving it the body of a lion, as the Sphinx lies close to his valley temple complex and the causeway leading to his Pyramid (see below).
How long have the wonders of ancient Egypt been standing?
Many wonders of Ancient Egyptian civilization remain standing after more than three millennia. These monuments are some of the most popular and enduring landmarks for tourists
What is Karnak in Egypt?
Karnak was the central site of worship for Amun-Ra and is one of the most holy places in Egypt.
Where was Djoser's tomb?
Djoser decided that his tomb would be at Saqqara, near the royal capital Memphis where he lived. The Step Pyramid was originally a mastaba tomb, an underground burial chamber with ground level rooms above to store gifts and offerings to the pharaoh.
Where is the tomb of Hatshepsut?
The Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut was constructed in the 18th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt and can be found close to The Valley of The Kings on the West Bank of the Nile, below the rugged cliff face at Deir el Bahari.
Who built the Great Pyramid?
The Great Pyramid is the largest of three, constructed by Khufu (known as Cheops by the Greeks) during the 4th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt.
Who found the tomb of King Tutankhamun?
The most famous tomb from the Valley of the Kings is that of the boy king Tutankhamun, found intact by British archeologist Howard Carter in 1922. Later pharaohs such as Horemheb and Ramesses II (both buried close by) tried to have Tutankhamun removed from Egypt’s histories, which meant robbers and adventurers were unable to disturb his tomb for almost 3500 years.
What were the two main building materials used in ancient Egypt?
The well preserved Temple of Isis from Philae (Egypt), with a pylon (a monumental gate of an Egyptian temple ) Due to the scarcity of wood, the two predominant building materials used in ancient Egypt were sun-baked mud brick and stone, mainly limestone, but also sandstone and granite in considerable quantities.
What are some examples of ancient Egyptian architecture?
The best known example of ancient Egyptian architecture are the Egyptian pyramids while excavated temples, palaces, tombs and fortresses have also been studied. Most buildings were built of locally available mud brick and limestone by levied workers. Monumental buildings were built via the post and lintel method of construction.
How many columns are there in the Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak?
Egyptian columns are famously present in the Great Hypostyle Hall of Karnak (circa 1224 BC), where 134 columns are lined up in 16 rows, with some columns reaching heights of 24 metres. One of the most important type are the papyriform columns. The origin of these columns goes back to the 5th Dynasty.
How many buildings did Amenhotep III build?
Under the tenure of Amenhotep III workers constructed over 250 buildings and monuments. One of the most impressive building projects was the temple complex of Malkata, known among the ancient Egyptians as the “house of rejoicing”, was constructed to serve his royal residence on the west bank of Thebes, just south of the Theban necropolis. The site is approximately 226,000 square meters (or 2,432,643 square feet). Given the immense size of the site, along with its many buildings, courts, parade grounds, and housing, it is considered to have served not just as a temple and dwelling of the Pharaoh but a town.
How many sections are there in the temple of Amun Re?
The temple of Amun-Re was constructed in three sections, the third being constructed by the later New Kingdom pharaohs. In canon with the traditional style of Egyptian architecture, many of the architectural features, such as the inner sanctum of the complex, were aligned with the sunset of the summer solstice.
What are some of the symbols of Egyptian architecture?
Many motifs of Egyptian ornamentation are symbolic, such as the scarab, or sacred beetle, the solar disk, and the vulture.
What is Egyptian architecture based on?
Thus, our understanding of ancient Egyptian architecture is based mainly on religious monuments, massive structures characterized by thick, sloping walls with few openings, possibly echoing a method of construction used to obtain stability in mud walls.
What were the two main building materials used in ancient Egypt?
The two principal building materials used in ancient Egypt were unbaked mud brick and stone. From the Old Kingdom (c. 2575–2130 bce) onward, stone was generally used for tombs—the eternal dwellings of the dead—and for temples—the eternal houses of the gods.
What is the tomb in Egypt?
Mortuary architecture in Egypt was highly developed and often grandiose. Most tombs comprised two principal parts, the burial chamber (the tomb proper) and the chapel, in which offerings for the deceased could be made. In royal burials the chapel rapidly developed into a mortuary temple, which, beginning in the New Kingdom (c. 1539–1075 bce ), was usually built separately and at some distance from the tomb. In the following discussion, funerary temples built separately will be covered with temples in general and not as part of the funerary complex.
How many rooms were there in the Mastaba?
In the mastaba of Mereruka, a vizier of Teti, first king of the 6th dynasty, there were 21 rooms for his own funerary purposes, with six for his wife and five for his son.
What was the significance of the pyramids?
The monumentality of the pyramid made it not only a potent symbol of royal power but also an obvious target for tomb robbers. During the New Kingdom the wish to halt the looting and desecration of royal tombs led to their being sited together in a remote valley at Thebes, dominated by a peak that itself resembled a pyramid. There, in the Valley of the Kings, tombs were carved deep into the limestone with no outward structure. These rock-cut tombs had been constructed for private citizens as early as the 4th dynasty. Most were fairly simple single chambers serving all the functions of the multiplicity of rooms in a mastaba. Some, however, were excavated with considerable architectural pretensions. At Aswān huge halls, often connecting to form labyrinthine complexes, were partly formal, with columns carefully cut from the rock, and partly rough-hewn. Chapels with false doors were carved out within the halls. In some cases the facades were monumental, with porticoes and inscriptions.
Where were the tombs of the 3rd Dynasty?
In the 3rd dynasty at Ṣaqqārah the most important private burials were at some distance from the step pyramids of Djoser and Sekhemkhet. Their large mastabas incorporated offering niches as well as corridors that could accommodate paintings of equipment for the afterlife and recesses to hold sculptures of the deceased owner. By the later Old Kingdom, internal space in mastabas became more complex as they accommodated more burials. In the mastaba of Mereruka, a vizier of Teti, first king of the 6th dynasty, there were 21 rooms for his own funerary purposes, with six for his wife and five for his son.
How tall is Seti's tomb?
The finest of the tombs is that of Seti I, second king of the 19th dynasty; it extends 328 feet (100 metres) into the mountain and contains a spectacular burial chamber, the barrel-shaped roof of which represents the vault of heaven.
Where is the Temple of Hatshepsut?
Temple of Hatshepsut at Dayr al-Baḥrī, Thebes, Egypt. © Ron Gatepain ( A Britannica Publishing Partner) The largest conventionally planned funerary temple complex was probably that of Amenhotep III, now to be judged principally from the two huge quartzite statues, the Colossi of Memnon.
What were the Egyptian monuments built for?
Most of these Ancient Egyptian Monuments were built as temples or for the gods’ formal religious worship or dedicated to their pharaohs. Some of them were tombs as well. These magnificent architectures have survived over centuries and continue to inspire millions of people who visit these sites.
What are some examples of Egyptian architecture?
Egyptian pyramids, excavated temples, palaces, tombs, and fortresses have all been excellent examples of Egyptian architecture and design. Most buildings were built from mud bricks and stone and were decorated with paintings, carved stone images, and hieroglyphs.
Why was the Abu Simbel Sun Festival built?
The structure is built so that Ptah, the god of the underworld, remains in the shadows. This event is now celebrated with the Abu Simbel Sun Festival, held twice a year –22nd February, when Ramses ascended the throne, and 22nd October, on his birthday. Image Source: Wikimedia. 9.
What is the name of the temple on Lake Nasser?
7. Temple Of Philae. The Temple of Philae was another Egyptian temple complex on Agilkia Island on Lake Nasser. Philae, in ancient Egyptian means ‘the end,’ i.e., it defined the southernmost limit of Egypt. It was begun by Ptolemy II and completed by the Roman Emperors.
What is the largest temple in Egypt?
Karnak Temple. The Karnak temple was an Egyptian Cult temple dedicated to Amun, Mut, and Khonsu gods. It existed around 2055 BC to 100 AD, and almost 30 pharaohs contributed to its building. It was the largest religious building ever constructed and covered about 200 acres.
What is the most famous pyramid in Egypt?
Image Source: Wikimedia. 9. The Great Sphinx. Egypt is famous for its ancient pyramids, especially the pyramids in Giza. The Sphinx is the oldest stone sculpture from the pyramids of the Old Kingdom. The Sphinx is carved out of natural limestone rock and is almost 20m high and 73m long.
Where is the Temple of Hatshepsut?
Temple of Hatshepsut is a mortuary temple in Upper Egypt. It is also known as Deir el-Bahr Temple, located in the cliffs near the Valley of Kings, close to Luxor City. This temple was built by well-known pharaoh Queen Maatkare Hatshepsut who ruled as a king in 15th century BC. The temple represents one of the finest examples of classical Egyptian architecture.
Pyramids
Mastabas
- The name “mastaba” derives from the Arabic for “bench” as these tombs resemble a large bench when viewed from a distance. A rectangular structure (with its length commonly being about four times its width) covered and protected a deep trench which held the burial and burial provisions of the deceased. This form of tomb was favoured by the Predynastic and Early Dynastic pharaohs …
Temples
- Egyptians temples were seen as the houses of the gods to whom they were dedicated, and were the focal point of the rituals and festivals associated with those gods.
Palaces
- Because the ancient Egyptians built their tombs and temples of stone and often located them away from the banks of the Nile (but built their homes and palaces of mudbrick and often located them closer to the river) we know a great deal more about these structures. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Malkata (Malqata) Palace (the palace of A...
Statues
Architecture
Prehistoric Sites
Overview
Spanning over three thousand years, ancient Egypt was not one stable civilization but in constant change and upheaval, commonly split into periods by historians. Likewise, ancient Egyptian architecture is not one style, but a set of styles differing over time but with some commonalities.
The best known example of ancient Egyptian architecture are the Egyptian pyra…
Characteristics
• Winged sun on a cavetto from the Medinet Habu temple complex. The winged sun represents a form of the falcon god Horus, son of Isis, triumphant over his enemies. The image was also a common protective device over temple entrances
• The well preserved Temple of Isis from Philae (Egypt), with a pylon (a monumental gate of an Egyptian temple)
Columns
• Illustrations of various types of capitals, circa 1849–1859, drawn by the egyptologist Karl Richard Lepsius
• Illustrations of papyriform capitals, in The Grammar of Ornament
• Illustration of other nine types of capitals, from The Grammar of Ornament
Giza pyramid complex
The Giza Necropolis stands on the Giza Plateau, on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt. This complex of ancient monuments is located some 8 kilometers (5 mi) inland into the desert from the old town of Giza on the Nile, some 20 kilometers (12 mi) southwest of Cairo city center. This ancient Egyptian necropolis consists of the Pyramid of Khufu (also known as the Great Pyramid or the Pyramid of Cheops), …
New Kingdom Temples
The Luxor Temple is a huge ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the River Nile in the city today known as Luxor (ancient Thebes). Construction work on the temple began during the reign of Amenhotep III in the 14th century BC. Horemheb and Tutankhamun added columns, statues, and friezes – and Akhenaten had earlier obliterated his father's cartouches and instal…
Ancient Egyptian fortresses
Fortifications within Ancient Egypt were built in times of conflict between rival principalities. Out of all fortresses analyzed within this time frame, most (if not all) were built of the same materials. The only exception to the rule were some fortresses from the Old Kingdom as fortresses such as the fort of Buhen utilized stone with the creation of its walls. The main walls were mainly built with mud brick but were reinforced with other materials such as timber. Rocks were also utilized to n…
Mastabas
Mastabas are burial tombs that hold royal significance. As chosen by Egyptian rulers, many of the tombs found throughout time were located along the Nile river. The structural exterior regarding Mastabas varies throughout history but there is a noticeable evolution of the course of Egyptian dynasties. The mastabas of the First Egyptian Dynasty would be created through the use of st…
Gardens
Three types of gardens are attested from ancient Egypt: temple gardens, private gardens, and vegetable gardens. Some temples, such as those at Deir el-Bahri, were provided with groves and trees, especially the sacred Ished Tree (Persea). Private pleasure gardens are known from an 11th Dynasty tomb model of Meketra, and from tomb decoration of the New Kingdom. They were typically s…