Ancient Egyptian Architecture

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Ancient Egyptian Architecture

The history of Egyptian architecture goes back 4000 years. The land of the pharaohs, a narrow strip of fertile alluvial soil along both sides of the Nile, boasted great engineering and architecture even in ancient times, despite the scarcity of modern technology.

Local materials like timber, clay, and stone were abundant, while metal was unavailable in this area. The main construction materials became various types of stones such as limestone, sandstone, and granite.

Ancient Egyptian architecture was greatly influenced by their strong belief in the afterlife. Their faith inspired them to create incredible architectural marvels, still celebrated with pride by modern people over 4000 years later.

Key features of Egyptian architecture included the use of mud bricks, which were durable and varied in size for stability. Walls often tapered towards the top due to the annual inundation of the Nile, and external surfaces exhibited a characteristic inward inclination, or ‘batter’. Arches and vaults were used in brick construction, along with surface decoration through incised relief and hieroglyphs.

Understanding Egyptian architecture is facilitated by discussing some of their major built forms:

MASTABAS:

In early dynastic periods, tombs were designed like houses, with several rooms to house the deceased and their funerary offerings. Mastabas, characterized by flat-topped rectangular structures and sloping sides, were common tomb types. These evolved into more complex designs with deeper burial chambers and offering chapels. During the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties, mastabas became more elaborate, featuring offering rooms, serdabs (enclosed chambers with statues of the deceased), and colorful reliefs depicting scenes from daily life. Examples such as the Mastaba of Aha and Mastaba of Thi exemplify this evolution in tomb architecture.

PYRAMIDS:

Pyramids were part of larger complexes that included offering chapels, mortuary temples, causeways, and valley buildings for embalming and burial rites. The construction techniques for pyramids involved quarrying limestone and granite, leveling the foundation, and building up layers of stone blocks using ramps and sledges. The pyramid’s construction included underground tomb chambers, which were initially finished before the superstructure began. These chambers were accessed through a complex system of corridors and galleries extending from the bottom of a deep pit. Surrounding the pyramid was a vast rectangular enclosure with a towering limestone wall, housing various buildings related to ceremonial and funerary activities.

The construction of pyramids was so marvelous that it still mesmerizes people to this day. Workers quarried stone blocks, often from nearby quarries, and transported them to the construction site using sledges and possibly boats along the Nile River. The blocks were then shaped and precisely placed to form the pyramid’s core structure. Builders employed various techniques, including levering and hauling, to lift the massive stones into position. As the pyramid rose, layers of casing stones were added to create smooth, polished exteriors. One of the most remarkable aspects of pyramid construction was the precision with which the stones were cut and fitted together. The Egyptians developed advanced techniques for quarrying and shaping stones, allowing them to achieve remarkable accuracy in their construction.

 

TEMPLES:

There were two main types of temples in ancient Egypt: mortuary temples and cult temples. Mortuary temples were dedicated to the worship and ministrations of deified Pharaohs, evolving from offering-chapels associated with royal tombs. Over time, they grew in importance and permanence, particularly during the Middle Kingdom when royal burials shifted to hillside locations. Cult temples, on the other hand, were centers for the worship of various gods and began as simple structures with a rectangular court and a pavilion housing the deity’s emblem. As time progressed, both types of temples became increasingly similar in their architectural features, with a main axis leading from an open court to a covered structure containing a hypostyle hall and sanctuary. The temples were typically enclosed within a larger perimeter, which also contained priestly residences, administrative buildings, and other facilities such as granaries and sacred pools or lakes.

OBELISKS:

Obelisks, sacred symbols of the sun god of Heliopolis, were typically placed in pairs at temple entrances. These monolithic structures were square at the base and tapered to a pyramidion at the top, which held sacred significance. They were often inscribed with hieroglyphs on all four sides. Obtaining granite for obelisks was a laborious process involving pounding trenches around the block with dolerite balls due to the risks associated with more conventional methods. Historical depictions show obelisks being transported on sledges and river barges and erected using earthen ramps. Many obelisks were taken from Egypt by Roman Emperors, with examples found in cities like Rome and London.

DWELLINGS:

Ordinary dwellings and workers’ establishments in ancient Egypt, as indicated by clay models found in tombs. Ordinary dwellings were typically made of crude brick, one or two storeys high, with flat or arched ceilings and a parapeted roof. Workers’ establishments, found near pyramid sites and in places like Tell el-Amarna, were laid out in considerable villages with rigidly formal lines. However, the village at Der el-Medina, constructed for workers engaged in royal corridor-tomb construction, was more freely planned and endured for centuries. In towns, better houses were often on constricted plots and could be three or four storeys high, while mansions stood in their own grounds with formal layouts including groves, gardens, and pools. The article also mentions the use of precious timber for columns, beams, doors, and window frames in these structures.

Throughout its history, Egyptian architecture maintained its traditions despite changes in construction methods and materials, emphasizing solemnity, solidity, and a sense of eternity. The purpose of monumental structures like pyramids was not only to preserve the Pharaoh’s mummy but also to serve as centers of cult worship for the royal dead, highlighting their enduring significance in Egyptian culture and religion.

 
 
 
 
 

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