Jump to content

Ancient Egypt: Difference between revisions

→‎Pyramids: mastaba early tomb structures
(change art & archi to architecutr only... alphabetize)
(→‎Pyramids: mastaba early tomb structures)
Line 1,174: Line 1,174:
** thus the Benben represents creation and the origin of the sun
** thus the Benben represents creation and the origin of the sun
** early Egyptians built large earth mounds to represent the the rising land of creation, which was subsequently represented in a pyramid shape of a single block of stone, thus the Benben
** early Egyptians built large earth mounds to represent the the rising land of creation, which was subsequently represented in a pyramid shape of a single block of stone, thus the Benben
=== pre-Dynastic & early Old Kingdom tombs & monumental structures ===
[[File:Mastaba-faraoun-3.jpg|thumb|Example of a mastaba, a built-up structure over underground tomb]]
* early Egyptians built elaborate underground burial tombs for kings & elites
** some tombs
* these underground tombs began to build up above ground with mud bricks
* mastaba
** = Arabic term for "bench of mud"
** ancient Egyptians called it, "house of stability"
* rectangular, flat-top, mudbrick structure, up to 30 ft high
** bricks were made of clay from the Nile banks, formed and sun-dried
** possibly related to similar Mesopotamian structures
* mastabas were built to protect burial grounds from animals and robbers
** mummification began with these structures, as they did not allow for natural mummification in the ground
* features included:
** chapel-like area above ground for ceremonies and offerings of food & other funerary offerings for the dead
*** the chapel area had a false door to protect against robbers
** oriented North-South, which was important for the buried's access to the afterlife
** two underground chambers, one for the dead and another for materials & goods for the afterlife
* mastabas were continued to be built into the Middle Kingdom
** increasingly complex over time
** some structures began to take shape of pyramids, which were adopted for kings


==== Old Kingdom early pyramid building ====
==== Old Kingdom early pyramid building ====
Line 1,271: Line 1,293:
** emulated ancient Egyptian pharaonic practices  
** emulated ancient Egyptian pharaonic practices  
</div>
</div>
=== Pyramid building & engineering ===
=== Pyramid building & engineering ===
* materials  
* materials