ANCIENT RIVER VALLEY

CIVILIZATIONS : EGYPT

LECTURE 3

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

 THE NILE RIVER WAS THE AXIS OF TWO EARLY AFRICAN

CIVILIZATIONS, EGYPTIAN AND NUBIAN . THE NILE RIVER SHAPED
THE DEVELOPMENT OF BOTH CIVILIZATIONS, PROVIDING A RELIABLE
SOURCE OF WATER FOR FARMING AND LINKING THEM TO SUB-
SAHARAN AFRICA AND THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA .
 THE NILE GAVE THEM LIMITED ACCESS TO VARIOUS BANTU PEOPLES
TO THE SOUTH AND VARIOUS MEDITERRANEAN PEOPLES TO THE
NORTH.
 ALTHOUGH BOTH CIVILIZATIONS CRYSTALLIZED ALONG THE NILE ,
THEY DEVELOPED ALONG DIFFERENT LINES.
 EGYPT UNIFIED POLITICALLY EARLIER AND MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN
NUBIA . THE RULER-CONQUEROR FIRST UNITED EGYPT ABOUT 3100
B.C.E. THE IDEA OF THE PHARAOH AS A DEIFIED RULER DEVELOPED
DURING A PERIOD KNOWN AS THE ARCHAIC PERIOD(3100-2660
B.C.E.).
 THIS CREATED THE FIRST MONARCHY OR RULE BY KINGS
BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
 LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS
 Specialized Workers:
 ?

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS
 Religion:
 Egyptians were polytheistic &
believed the gods controlled all
aspects of life
LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS
 Writing:
 Egyptian hieroglyphics
was both pictograms &
a phonetic alphabet
LASTING CONTRIBUTIONS
 Technology:
 Egyptian ideas included a 365-day
calendar, geometry, astronomy, &
pyramids
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-GEOGRAPHY
 GEOGRAPHY IS DESTINY. THIS WAS
PARTICULARLY TRUE FOR THE NILE RIVER
VALLEY CIVILIZATION.
 THE NILE WOULD FLOOD EACH YEAR
STARTING IN JULY AND LASTING UNTIL
NOVEMBER. THIS FLOOD WOULD PROVIDE
NEW, RICH SOIL FOR THE EGYPTIANS AND
WOULD WASH AWAY WASTE.
 THE SEAS AND THE DESERT THAT
SURROUNDED THE NILE VALLEY SERVED AS
A BARRIER AGAINST CONQUEST AND
DISEASE.
 EGYPT KNOWN AS “ THE LAND OF
PHARAOH “, & “DESERT LAND “.

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
I. GEOGRAPHY
Nile
A. THE NILE River
1. EGYPT’S SETTLEMENTS AROSE ALONG NARROW
STRIP OF LAND MADE FERTILE BY THE RIVER
2. YEARLY FLOODING, BUT PREDICTABLE
REGULAR CYCLE: FLOOD, PLANT, HARVEST...
3. INTRICATE NETWORK OF IRRIGATION DITCHES
4. WORSHIPED AS A GOD – GIVER OF LIFE AND
BENEVOLENT

Irrigating scene painted on tomb at Thebes

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
I. GEOGRAPHY
B. UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT
1. MOST OF EGYPT’S HISTORY FOCUSED
AROUND LOWER EGYPT,
AROUND THE NILE DELTA WHICH
FLOWS INTO THE MEDITERRANEAN
SEA.
2. UPPER EGYPT DEVELOPED LATER
UPSTREAM

3. NILE PROVIDED RELIABLE

TRANSPORTATION

- TO GO NORTH, DRIFT WITH THE CURRENT

TOWARD THE SEA

- TO GO SOUTH, SAIL CATCHING THE

MEDITERRANEAN BREEZE

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
C. ENVIRONMENT
1. UNLIKE MESOPOTAMIA, THE NILE WAS
PREDICTABLE

2. DESERTS ON BOTH SIDES OF NILE

- PROVIDED NATURAL PROTECTION

AGAINST INVADERS

- ALSO REDUCED INTERACTION WITH

OTHER PEOPLE

EGYPT DEVELOPED MOSTLY IN

ISOLATION AND THEREFORE, HAD A
CULTURE THAT WAS QUITE UNIQUE.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-GOVERNMENT
II. UNITED EGYPT’S GOVERNMENT
A. UNLIKE SUMERIA, NO INDEPENDENT CITY-STATES IN EGYPT
B. MENES, THE KING OF UPPER EGYPT,

1. UNITED THE TWO REGIONS – UPPER AND LOWER – IN 3,100 B.C.E.

2. CAPITAL: MEMPHIS
3. CREATES FIRST EGYPTIAN DYNASTY
C. THE PHARAOH [MEANS, ROYAL HOUSE] – THE RULER OF EGYPT
1. WERE CONSIDERED GODS; SERVED BOTH POLITICAL DEFINE
AND RELIGIOUS ROLES TYPE OF
GOVERNMENT
TYPE OF GOVERNMENT WHERE THE POLITICAL RULERS
ARE THOUGHT TO BE DIVINELY-GUIDED, OR EVEN
DIVINE THEMSELVES IS A THEOCRACY.

BEFORE 3000 B.C., THERE WAS THE WHITE CROWN OF UPPER EGYPT AND
THE RED CROWN OF LOWER EGYPT. WHEN EGYPT WAS UNITED, THESE
TWO CROWNS WERE COMBINED INTO THE DOUBLE CROWN OF UPPER
AND LOWER EGYPT.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-GOVERNMENT
II. UNITED EGYPT’S GOVERNMENT

2. BELIEVED EACH PHARAOH RULED EVEN

AFTER DEATH, BECAUSE THEY ALL
POSSESSED THE SAME ETERNAL
SPIRIT = KA;

AND BEING GODS, THEY NATURALLY BORE

FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EGYPT’S WELL-
BEING.

THE PHARAOH AKENATON AND HIS

WIFE-SISTER NEFERTITI WORSHIPING
THE SUN GOD, RA.

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-GOVERNMENT
II. UNITED EGYPT’S GOVERNMENT

3. THEREFORE, PHARAOH’S TOMB VERY IMPORTANT,

BECAUSE IT WAS STILL A PLACE OF RULE.
BUILT MASSIVE TOMBS CALLED PYRAMIDS.
4. THE PYRAMIDS WERE
BUILT MAINLY IN THE
OLD KINGDOM PERIOD.

The Great Pyramids at Giza.

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-CHRONOLOGY
 ANCIENT EGYPTIAN HISTORY IS DIVIDED BY DYNASTY AND
“KINGDOM”.
 30 DYNASTIES – STARTED FROM 3RD MILLENNIUM B.C. TO ROMAN
PERIOD. EGYPT WAS PART OF PERSIAN EMPIRE FOR 2 CENTURIES,
BEFORE THE INVASION OF “ALEXANDER THE GREAT “.

 THE THREE PRINCIPLE PERIODS ARE:

 OLD KINGDOM - (2660-2160 B.C.E. )( 1ST – 10TH DYNASTY )
 MIDDLE KINGDOM -(2040-1640 B.C.E.) ( 11TH – 17TH DYNASTY )
 NEW KINGDOM - (1550-1070 B.C.E.). ( 18TH – 30TH DYNASTY )

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

EARLY DYNASTIC PERIOD 2920-2575 BCE

• UNIFICATION OF UPPER AND LOWER EGYPT BY

MENES.

• FOUNDATION OF THE CAPITAL MEMPHIS.

• EARLY STEP PYRAMID WAS BUILT AT SAQQARA.

OLD KINGDOM - 2660-2180 BCE

• THE GREAT PYRAMIDS OF KHUFU (CHEOPS),

KHAFRE (CHEPHREN), MENKAURE (MYCERINUS)
WERE BUILT AT GIZA.

• PYRAMIDS OF SAHURE, NEFERIRKARE,

RANEFEREF, NEUSERRE WERE BUILT AT ABUSIR.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
MIDDLE KINGDOM 2180-1550 BCE
• FRAGMENTATION OF CENTRALIZED POWER.
• KINGS IN THEBES ESTABLISH CONTROL
OVER ALL EGYPT.
• CHAOS LEADS CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
IN LOWER EGYPT TO DISAPPEAR
FOLLOWING INFILTRATION BY HYKSOS,
AN ASIATIC PEOPLE IN THE NILE DELTA.
• UPPER EGYPT DOMINATED BY KINGS IN
THEBES.
NEW KINGDOM 1550-1070 BCE
• THEBAN KING AHMOSE EXPELS THE HYKSOS
AND REUNITES EGYPT.
• REIGNS OF SUCH KINGS AS AMENHOTEP
AND THUTMOSE (THUTMOSIS). MEMPHIS
NOW MAIN RESIDENTIAL CITY.
• RAMSES II (1290- 1224 BC) DIVIDES POWER
IN MIDDLE EAST WITH THE HITTITES; QANTIR
CAPITAL OF EGYPT.
• INVASIONS OF MYSTERIOUS SEA PEOPLE
WRECK HAVOC THROUGHOUT
MEDITERRANEAN REGION.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-OLD KINGDOM
 IN A NUMBER OF WAYS THE OLD KINGDOM IS
CONSIDERED THE CLASSIC ERA IN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
HISTORY. THIS PERIOD IS MARKED BY THE POWER AND
INFLUENCE OF THE PHARAOH BEING AT ITS HEIGHT.
 THIS IS SHOWN IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MASSIVE
PYRAMIDS FOR BURIAL OF THE PHARAOHS.
 PYRAMIDS WERE CONSTRUCTED DURING ALL THREE
KINGDOM PERIODS, BUT THE LARGEST PYRAMIDS WERE
BUILT DURING THE OLD KINGDOM .
 THE MOST FAMOUS PYRAMIDS WERE CONSTRUCTED
BETWEEN 2600 AND 2500 B.C.E. AT GIZA , TWO OF THE
BEST KNOWN BEING THE GREAT PYRAMID OF THE RULER
KHUFU AND THE GREAT SPHINX.
BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION
III. EGYPTIAN CULTURE
A. RELIGION
1. POLYTHEISTIC - The worship of or belief in more than one god.
A. OVER 2,000
RA, THE SUN GOD; HORUS, SKY GOD; ISIS, MOTHER GODDESS “GIVER OF LIFE”
ASSOCIATED WITH NILE

ABOVE:
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. THE PANTHEON OF EGYPTIAN GODS*
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION
III. EGYPTIAN CULTURE
A. RELIGION
DIFFERENT EGYPTIAN GODS:

AMUN—RA : CHIEF GOD

RAH : SYMBOL OF THE SUN , HOPE FOR ETERNAL LIFE , SUN GOD FR.
HELIOPOLIS
ATUM : WORLD CREATOR
OSIRIS : GOD OF THE DEAD
ISIS : WIFE OF OSIRIS
HORUS : SKY GOD, SON OF OSIRIS, ALSO REINCARNATION OF
― RA‖ HIMSELF
SET : DREAD GOD OF EVIL, BROTHER OF PLEASURE
THOT : IBIS HEADED GOD OF WISDOM
ANUBIS : JACKAL HEADED GOD OF DEATH
PTAH : GOD OF CRAFTSMEN
SERAPIS : BULL GOD

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION
III. EGYPTIAN CULTURE
A. RELIGION
2. BELIEF IN AFTERLIFE! THE DEAD WERE JUDGED BY OSIRIS, GOD OF THE
DEAD.

DESIRING TO MAKE IT TO THE OTHER WORLD SAFELY, EGYPTIANS OF ALL

CLASSES MADE SPECIAL PREPARATIONS FOR THEIR BURIALS, INCLUDING
MUMMIFICATION – EMBALMING AND PRESERVING THE CORPSE TO PREVENT
IT FROM DECAYING.

ABOVE: CANOPIC JARS FOR THE BODY’S

VARIOUS ORGANS.
RIGHT: COFFIN OF A MIDDLE KINGDOM
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION

THE MUMMY OF RAMSES II (1304 -1237 BC ) STILL PRESERVED TODAY, 3,200

YEARS LATER, AT THE CAIRO MUSEUM.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION

ANNUBIS, GOD OF EMBALMING

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
 Egyptian
coffins
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-RELIGION

BURIAL MASKS

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL STRUCTURE
III. EGYPTIAN CULTURE
B. SOCIAL STRUCTURE

WEALTHY MAN’S
HOUSE AT
AMARNA.

BAS-RELIEF OF AKINS
PP DESIGN OF T. LOESSIN; SERVANTS
H.S. ATTENDING A ROYAL LADY.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL STRUCTURE
III. EGYPTIAN CULTURE
B. SOCIAL STRUCTURE

• ROYAL FAMILY

• UPPER CLASS
. LANDOWNERS (ALSO KNOWN
AS ARISTOCRACY OR NOBILITY)
. PRIESTS
. ARMY COMMANDERS
. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

• MIDDLE CLASS
(MERCHANTS /
ARTISANS)
A.
BEAUTIFULLY
HARVESTING CARVED
GRAIN;SOAPSTONE
B. MUSICIANS PLAY FOR THE
WORKERS
SPHINX
IN THE
STORAGE
FIELDS; C.
DISH.
WOMEN WINNOWING THE
• LOWER CLASS GRAIN;
MIDDLE
D. SCRIBES
KINGDOM
TALLYPERIOD
THE FARMER’S TAXES; E. THE
(PEASANT FARMERS, FARMER’S SON TENDING THE LIVESTOCK / CATTLE.
UNSKILLED LABORERS)
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-WRITINGS
IV. EGYPTIAN WRITING

A. PICTOGRAPHS DEVELOPED INTO HIEROGLYPHICS

B. WRITTEN ON PAPYRUS, UNFURLED REED FROM THE NILE, DRIED
INTO STRIPS

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-TECHNOLOGY
V. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
A. GEOMETRY, NUMERIC SYSTEM ON BASE 10 (DECIMAL),
ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS, FIRST TO USE STONE
COLUMNS

B. CALENDAR
C. AMAZING ADVANCEMENTS IN
MEDICINE

PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-INVASIONS
VI. INVASIONS

A. OLD KINGDOM BEGINS TO DECLINE,

CA. 2180 B.C.E. AFTER ABOUT A CENTURY THEBES

OF FRAGMENTED AND WEAK RULERS,

B. MIDDLE KINGDOM PERIOD RISES [2080-

1640 B.C.E.] N
• CENTER OF POWER IS NOW IN THEBES IN I
L
UPPER EGYPT RATHER THAN LOWER EGYP T
EGYPT’S OLD MEMPHIS CAPITAL. R.
• THIS IS A PROSPEROUS PERIOD.MASSIVE
BUILDING PROJECTS AROUND THEBES.
• THE EGYPTIANS TOOK THEIR YEARS OF
WELL-PROTECTED GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION
FOR GRANTED AND MADE LITTLE REAL
DEFENSIVE PREPARATIONS

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-INVASIONS

C. INVADED BY THE HYKSOS, AN ASIATIC THEBES

PEOPLE, GREAT CHARIOT-RIDERS –
WHICH THEY INTRODUCED IN EGYPT FOR
THE FIRST TIME.
N
THESE FOREIGNERS BRING THE MIDDLE- I
KINGDOM PERIOD TO AN ENDAND RULED L
EGYP T
EGYPT FOR 70 YEARS.
R.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
VII. GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

•STONE – ABUNDANT BUILDING MATERIAL EXCEPT

ON TEMPLES & PYRAMIDS
•SOFT STONE – LIMESTONE , SANDSTONE , ALABASTER .
•HARD STONE – GRANITE , QUARTZITE , BASALT ,
PORPHYRY
•SAND DRIED BRICKS – MADE UP OF CLAY &
CHOPPED STONE FOR PYRAMIDS & TEMPLES.
•DATE PALM – FOR ROOFING’S & PALM LEAVES – FOR
ROOFING MATERIALS .
•ACACIA – FOR THEIR BOAT
•SYCAMORE – MUMMY CASES
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
VIII.CLIMATIC INFLUENCE

•STRUCTURE HAVE NO DOWNSPOUT , DRAINAGE ,

GUTTERS DUE TO ABSENCE OF RAIN .

•NO WINDOWS TO CUT HEAT PENETRATION AND

SANDSTORM.

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL CHARACTER

ARCHITECTURAL IDEAS
 ANCIENT EGYPTIANS VIEWED EARTHLY
DWELLINGS AS TEMPORARY
 THEY PAID LITTLE ATTENTION TO HOUSE
CONSTRUCTION
 THE TOMB WAS SEEN AS A PERMANENT
DWELLING FOR THE AFTERLIFE
 TREMENDOUS EFFORT WAS EXERTED IN
TOMB CONSTRUCTION
 THE MUMMIFIED DEAD BODY WAS
BURIED IN A STONE BOX CALLED
SARCOPHAGUS IN THE TOMB
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL CHARACTER

ARCHITECTURAL IDEAS
 BELIEVED A DEAD PERSON
NEEDS ALL HER/HIS WORLDLY
GOODS
 TOMB USUALLY PACKED W/
ALL THE TREASURES OF DEAD
PERSON
 IF ANYTHING CANNOT BE
PROVIDED, IT IS PAINTED ON
THE WALLS OF THE TOMB
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-SOCIAL CHARACTER

ARCHITECTURAL IDEAS
 TOMBS ALSO HAVE
CHARMS TO PROTECT
DEAD PERSON & HER/HIS
PROPERTY
 DEAD BURIED IN -CITIES
OF THE DEAD, CALLED
NECROPOLIS LOCATED IN
DESERT
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-ARCHITECTURE
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER

•SIMPLICITY
•MONUMENTALITY
•SOLIDITY OR MASSIVENESS

SYSTEMS OF CONSTRUCTION:

POST & LINTEL; COLUMNAR OR

TRABEATED. BATTERWALL

FEATURES OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE

•BATTERWALL- INCLINATION FROM

BASE TO TOP OF THE FAÇADE.

•HIEROGLYPHICS- USE AS
ORNAMENTS, PICTURES &
WRITINGS FROM THE WALLS

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
HIEROGLYPHICS
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-ARCHITECTURE

 DURING THE OLD KINGDOM, THE PHARAOH AND HIS

COURT LIVED IN MEMPHIS
 WHEN THEY DIED THEY WERE BURIED AT THE NECROPOLIS
AT SAQQARA
 THE EARTHLY DWELLING OF THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS WAS
SEEN AS TEMPORARY AND THE TOMB AS A PERMANENT
DWELLING
 HOUSES WERE BUILT OF TEMPORARY MATERIALS TO LAST
FOR A LIFETIME
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION-
TOMB ARCHITECTURE

 TOMBSWERE MOST OUTSTANDING ARCHITECTURAL

ELEMENT OF THE PERIOD
 TOMBS
ALSO SERVE AS THE FOCUS FOR THE
WORSHIP OF THE DEAD
 THE
TOMB EVOLVED DURING THE OLD KINGDOM
FROM THE MASTABA, THROUGH THE STEPPED
PYRAMID TO THE RENOWN ANCIENT EGYPTIAN
PYRAMID

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA

 THE EARLIEST METHOD OF BURIAL IN ANCIENT EGYPT WAS

IN SHALLOW PITS IN THE DESERT
 THE DESERT DRIED THE BODIES AND PRESERVED THEM
 WHEN ANIMALS PREYED ON BODIES, THE PEOPLE DUG
DEEPER
 IN THE END THEY BUILT A BENCH-LIKE STRUCTURE OVER
GRAVES TO CREATE FIRST BURIAL STRUCTURE CALLED
MASTABA
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA

 THENAME MASTABA IS DERIVED FROM PODIUMS

FOUND IN THE FRONT OF TRADITIONAL HOUSES
 INTHE OLD KINGDOM, RICH AND NOBLE PERSON
BUILT MASTABA FOR THEIR BURIAL IN THE CITY OF
THE DEAD
 ABOVE GROUND THE MASTABA IS A LARGE
BENCH OF SUN-BAKED BRICKS RISING 9 METERS
HIGH
 IT HAD A FLAT TOP AND SLANTING WALLS
 THEEARLIEST ROYAL TOMBS WERE DECORATED
WITH PAINTED PATTERNS IN BRILLIANT COLORS
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA
 INTERNALLY, A MASTABA
CONSIST OF THREE PARTS-
A BURIAL CHAMBER, A
SERDAB AND A CHAPEL
 THE BURIAL CHAMBER
WAS LOCATED 30’ BELOW
GROUND
 CONNECTED TO BURIAL
CHAMBER ABOVE GROUND
THROUGH A SHAFT
 PLACE FOR THE BURIAL OF
THE DEAD PERSON
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA
 INTHE CHAMBER IS
FOUND THE
SARCOPHAGUS WHERE
THE DEAD BODY WAS
PLACED
 THE BURIAL CHAMBER IS
PACKED WITH ALL THE
NECESSARY THINGS
NEEDED IN THE
AFTERLIFE
 AFTER BURIAL, THE
SHAFT TO THE BURIAL
CHAMBER WAS SEALED
BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA
 THE SERDAB AND
CHAPEL ARE LOCATED
ABOVE GROUND
 THE SERDAB IS A
ROOM WHERE THE
STATUE OF THE DEAD
PERSON IS KEPT
 STATUE ACTS AS A
SUBSTITUTE FOR BODY
IN CASE IT IS
DESTROYED
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA

 EGYPTIANS BELIEVED THAT THE KA MUST RETURN TO

THE BODY OR A COPY OF IT EACH NIGHT
 IF BOTH BODY AND STATUE ARE DESTROYED, THE KA
WOULD DIE
 THE CHAPEL IS WHERE THE KA IS SUPPOSED TO LIVE
FOREVER
 COLORFUL ROOM MEANT TO DECEIVE THE GODS INTO
LETTING THE KA ENTER THE NEXT WORLD
 FALSE DOOR LEADING TO THE LAND OF THE DEAD
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
MASTABA

 SOME MASTABAS HAD FENCE WALLS, AND

CHAMBERS FOR BURIAL OF SERVANTS
 MASTABA SERVED AS AN EMBRYO FOR THE
EVOLUTION OF THE PYRAMID
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
PYRAMIDS
PYRAMIDS – EVOLVED FROM MASTABA ; W/ FOUR SIDES
FACING THE CARDINAL POINTS , THEY WERE MADE BY
100,000 MEN FOR 100 YEARS.

•STEP PYRAMID – EVOLVED FROM MASTABA

•BENT OR BLUNT PYRAMID – 2 DEGREES OF

INCLINATION OF SLOPE

•SLOPE PYRAMID – PARTS ( KING’S CHAMBER , QUEEN’S

CHAMBER , SUBTERRANEAN CHAMBER, GRAND
GALLERY, AIRSHAFTS.

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID

 KING ZOSER (DJOSER) WAS THE POWERFUL

PHARAOH OF THE THIRD DYNASTY OF THE OLD
KINGDOM
 THE STEPPED PYRAMID WAS BUILT FOR KING
ZOSER BY IMHOTEP
 IT WAS BUILT AS A FUNERAL COMPLEX IN THE
NECROPOLIS AT SAQQARA
 IMHOTEP INITIALLY CONCEIVED OF THE TOMB AS
A LARGE MASTABA OF STONE
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID
 DISSATISFACTION W/
RESULT LED TO
STACKING OF
MASTABA
 RESULT
WAS STEPPED
PYRAMID W/ FIVE
SLOPING SETBACKS
 THE STEPPED PYRAMID
IS THE INTERMEDIATE
STEP BETWEEN
MASTABA AND
GEOMETRIC PYRAMID
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID
 STEPPED PYRAMID WAS 200’
HIGH W/ 6 GIANT STEPS
 BURIAL CHAMBER IS ENTERED
FROM NORTH SIDE & IS 92’
DOWN
 ON EITHER SIDE OF CHAMBER
ARE STORE ROOMS FOR
KING’S TREASURES
 ALL TREASURES BURIED W/
ZOSER HAVE BEEN STOLEN
 A STONE STATUE OF ZOSER
ALSO RECENTLY FOUND
STARING OUT THROUGH PEEP
HOLES IN HIS SERDAB
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID
 SERDAB LOCATED ON
NORTH SIDE, ALONG
W/ FUNERARY TEMPLE
 STEPPED PYRAMID
STANDS AT MIDDLE OF
LARGE COMPLEX
 FUNERAL COMPLEX
CONSISTED OF
PALACES, TEMPLES &
STEPPED PYRAMID
 ALL SURROUNDED BY
FENCE WALL 33’ HIGH
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID

 FENCE WALL OF FUNERAL COMPLEX HAS BREAKING

PATTERN OF ~200 PROJECTIONS/RECESSIONS
 FOURTEEN WERE LARGER THAN THE OTHERS & 13 OUT OF
THE FOURTEEN HAD FALSE DOORS
 FALSE DOORS FOR USE OF PHARAOH’S KA
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID
 ENTRANCE DOOR
LEADS TO LONG HALL
W/ TWO ROWS OF
COLUMNS
 ONE OF THE 1ST USES OF
COLUMNS IN HISTORY
 COLUMNS DESIGNED TO
LOOK LIKE BUNDLES OF
REEDS… & HAD FLUTES
EARLY KINGDOM TOMBS
STEPPED PYRAMID
 IN
NORTH PALACE ALSO
STONE COLUMNS W/
CAPITALS
 DESIGNEDTO LOOK LIKE
PAPYRUS PLANT
 ZOSER’SFUNERAL
COMPLEX DESIGNED AS
MODEL OF HIS PALACE,
CITY & KINGDOM
 SHAPEOF PYRAMID
SUGGESTS STAIRWAY TO
THE SKY TO JOIN THE SUN
GOD AMON RA BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
ATTEMPTS AT PYRAMID BUILDING

 AFTER THE STEPPED PYRAMIDS, THERE WERE SEVERAL

ATTEMPT AT BUILDING A PURE GEOMETRIC PYRAMID
 AMONG THE PROMINENT ATTEMPTS:
 PYRAMID AT MEDUN
 TWO PYRAMIDS BUILT BY SNEFRU AT DASHUR

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
ATTEMPTS AT PYRAMID BUILDING

 KING HUNI MADE THE

FIRST ATTEMPT AT
BUILDING PURE PYRAMID
AT MEDUN
 CONSTRUCTED SEVEN-
STEPPED PYRAMID WITH
SQUARE PLAN AND
HEIGHT OF 90M AND
ANGLE OF INCLINE: 51°
 PYRAMID DID NOT HAVE
MORTUARY TEMPLE
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
ATTEMPTS AT PYRAMID BUILDING
(BENT PYRAMID)
 PHAROAH SNEFRU
MADE TWO ATTEMPTS AT
PYRAMID
CONSTRUCTION
 1ST PYRAMID, THE BENT
PYRAMID AT DASHUR
HAD A SQUARE PLAN
WITH A HEIGHT OF 102M
 THE PYRAMID HAD A
CHANGE OF ANGLE
MIDWAY, LEADING TO
ITS BEING CALLED THE
BENT PYRAMID
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
BENT PYRAMID
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
ATTEMPTS AT PYRAMID BUILDING
(SLOPE PYRAMID)
 SNEFRU’S 2ND PYRAMID--
NORTH PYRAMID--IS PLACE
HE WAS BURIED
 LOW PITCH OF 43° INSTEAD
OF 52° MAKING IT LOOK
STUNTED
 A TRUE PYRAMID HAS AN
INCLINE ANGLE OF 52°
 SLOPE PYRAMID – PARTS
 KING’S CHAMBER ,
 QUEEN’S CHAMBER
 SUBTERRANEAN CHAMBER
 GRAND GALLERY
 AIRSHAFTS.
 EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZA

 CONSTRUCTION OF A
TRUE GEOMETRICAL
PYRAMID ACHIEVED
DURING REIGN OF
CHEOPS, SON OF
SNEFRU
 LOCATED AT GIZA

 CALLED “GREAT
PYRAMID” BECAUSE OF
SIZE
 THE PYRAMID IS 482’
HIGH ON A PLAN 760’
SQUARE
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZA

 TWO ADDITIONAL
PYRAMIDS BUILT AT GIZA
 2ND LARGEST IN THE
CENTER BUILT BY
CHEFREN, THE SON OF
CHEOPS
 3RD AND SMALLEST BUILT
BY MYKERINUS, SON OF
CHEFREN
 THE THREE TOGETHER
ARE REFERRED TO AS THE
PYRAMIDS AT GIZA
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE PYRAMIDS AT GIZA

 THREE
ARE ALIGNED
DIAGONALLY
ALONG THE
PROJECTION OF THE
DIAGONAL OF THE
GREAT PYRAMID

 THE
SMALL
PYRAMIDS CLOSE BY
WERE BUILT FOR
QUEENS
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE GREAT PYRAMID CHEOPS

 GREAT PYRAMID HAD

UNIQUE INTERNAL
ARRANGEMENT
 FIRST: A CHAMBER BUILT
BELOW BASE OF
PYRAMID
 ANOTHER CHAMBER
BUILT ABOVE IT KNOWN
AS QUEEN’S CHAMBER
 LARGER BURIAL
CHAMBER KNOWN AS
THE KING’S CHAMBER
BUILT CENTER OF
PYRAMID
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
THE GREAT PYRAMID CHEOPS

 CHAMBER WHERE THE KING

WAS BURIED IN HIS
SARCOPHAGUS
 KING’S CHAMBER 35’ X17’
AND 19’ HIGH
 BOTH KING & QUEEN
CHAMBER CONNECTED TO
THE ENTRANCE ON THE NORTH
SIDE
 TWO AIR SHAFTS CONNECT
KING’S CHAMBER TO OUTSIDE
FOR VENTILATION
 ONCE A KING IS BURIED,
BURIAL CHAMBER SEALED
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID OF THE CHEOPS OR KHUFU (146.4 MTS. HIGH
& ( 750 SQ. FT. ) IN PLAN

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID OF CHEOPS or “Khafra”
( 143.0 mts. high ) &
(705 sq. ft. ) in plan.
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID OF MYKERINOS OR “MENKAURA “
(109.0 MTS. HIGH) & (218FT. HIGH)

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID
 THE PYRAMIDS DESIGNED AS PART
OF A FUNERAL COMPLEX FOR
BURIAL OF PHARAOH

 CHEFREN’S COMPLEX IS BEST

PRESERVED EXAMPLE

 COMPLEX CONSIST OF THREE

INTERCONNECTED UNITS:
 A VALLEY TEMPLE BY THE RIVER
NILE WHERE THE PHARAOH’S
BODY WAS EMBALMED
 A PYRAMID MORTUARY TEMPLE
FOR RITUALS
 A LONG NARROW CAUSEWAY
CONNECTING THE TWO
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
PYRAMID CONSTRUCTION
 HOW WERE THE PYRAMIDS CONSTRUCTED?
 NO ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE METHOD OF
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PYRAMIDS
 ESTIMATES VARY:~ 100,000 MEN WORKED 3-4 MONTHS
EACH YEAR FOR 30 YEARS TO BUILD THE PYRAMIDS.
 LIMESTONE QUARRIED FROM NEARBY --TRANSPORTED BY
LEVER ACTION

 PAID IN FOOD, CLOTHING AND DRINKS

EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
WHY DID EGYPTIANS BUILD PYRAMIDS

 THE PYRAMIDS WERE IN GENERAL A

RESPONSE TO THE VAST DESERT
LANDSCAPES

 FOR STRUCTURES TO BE VISIBLE IN

THE DESERT THEY HAVE TO BE OF
HUGE SIZE

 THE PYRAMIDS WERE ALSO A

PRODUCT OF THE WILL TO ACHIEVE
IMMORTALITY BY THE PHARAOHS

 PYRAMIDS ARE THE EVERLASTING

HOME OF THE PHARAOH’S KA
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
END OF PYRAMID CONSTRUCTION
 AFTER THE MYKERINUS PERIOD, THE ERA OF PYRAMID
CONSTRUCTION ENDED
 MORE PYRAMIDS WERE BUILT LATER BUT THEY WERE
SMALLER AND LESS COMPLEX
 LATER PHARAOHS COULD NOT AFFORD THE COST OF HUGE
PYRAMID CONSTRUCTION
 GRAVE ROBBERS LEARNED HOW TO BREAK INTO AND STEAL
THE GOODS BURIED WITH PHARAOHS
 END OF THE OLD KINGDOM THEREFORE MARKED THE END
OF THE GREAT ERA OF EGYPTIAN PYRAMID
CONSTRUCTION.

BY : AR.GOPAL TOMAR