EGYPTIAN

ARCHITECTURE
GROUP 1
WEEK 1 - INFLUENCES
 I. INFLUENCES
i. GEOGRAPHICAL

● EGYPT CONSISTS OF A SANDY DESERT WITH A STRIP OF

FERTILE COUNTRY ON THE BANKS OF THE NILE.

● EGYPT WAS THE ONLY NATION OF THE ANCIENT WORLD TO HAVE

EASY ACCESS TO THE NORTHERN OR MEDITERRANEAN SEA

AS WELL AS TO THE EASTERN AND ARABIAN SEA, BY WAY OF THE RED SEA.

● THE POSSESSION OF THE NILE, WAS IMMENSE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE ITS WATERS
WERE FERTILIZING AGENTS THAT MADE DESERT SANDS INTO FRUITFUL FIELDS.
 I. INFLUENCES
ii. GEOLOGICAL
● IN EGYPT, THERE EXISTED AN ABUNDANCE OF LIMESTONE IN THE
NORTH, SANDSTONE IN THE CENTRAL REGION AND GRANITE IN THE
SOUTH.
● THE LATTER IS PRINCIPALLY FOUND NEAR IN THE ASSUAN OR SYENE
AND IT’S CALLED SYENITE.
● BRICKS WERE ALSO EMPLOYED BUT WERE GENERALLY FACED WITH
MORE HARDER MATERIALS.
● WOOD OF A KIND THAT MEANT FOR BUILDING WAS NOT AVAILABLE,
ONLY SMALL FOREST OF PALM AND ACACIA IS EXISTING.
 I. INFLUENCES
iii. CLIMATE

SPRING SUMMER
 I. INFLUENCES
iv. RELIGION

● A TINGE OF MYSTERY IS ONE OF THE GREATEST CHARACTERISTICS OF

THE EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE AS WELL IN ITS TOMBS AND TEMPLES.
● THE EGYPTIANS ATTAINED TO A VERY HIGH DEGREE OF LEARNING IN
ASTRONOMY, MATHEMATICS AND PHILOSOPHY. THE REMAINS OF THEIR
LITERATURE HAS BEEN PRESERVED IN THE PAPYRI AND MSS.
● EGYPTIANS ARE STRONG BELIEVERS OF A FUTURE STATE, HENCE
THEIR CARE IN PRESERVING THEIR DEAD AND THE ERECTION OF SUCH
EVERLASTING MONUMENTS AS THE PYRAMIDS.
 1. INFLUENCES
V. SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
● A VAST POPULATION WAS AVAILABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT ON PUBLIC
WORKS, THE WORKMEN PROBABLY RECEIVING NO OTHER PAY THAN THEIR
FOOD.
● IN ADDITION, THERE EXISTED A CENTRALIZED DESPOTIC GOVERNMENT
WHICH PERHAPS, MORE THAN ANY OTHER FAVOURED THE EXECUTION OF
MONUMENTAL WORKS.
● DURING THE REIGN OF RAMESES 11, CAPTIVES AND FOREIGNERS WHO HAD
LARGELY INCREASED WERE PUT TO ENFORCED LABOR UPON THE PUBLIC
WORKS, AND IN THE FIRST CHAPTER OF THE BOOK EXODUS, THE NATIVES
ARE SAID TO HAVE VIEWED WITH ALARM THE GROWING MEMBERS AND
POWER THESE STRANGERS
 1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

● EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION IS THE MOST ANCIENT OF ANY OF WHICH THERE

IS A CLEAR KNOWLEDGE; ITS HISTORY IS PARTICULARLY FROM THE
EGYPTIAN BUILDINGS, BY WHICH IT CAN BE TRACED BACK FOR MORE
THAN 4000 YEARS B.C
● THE KINGS OR PHARAOHS (FROM THE TITLE “PERAA” MEANING “GREAT
HOUSE”) HAVE BEEN ARRANGED IN THIRTY DYNASTIES, EXTENDING DOWN
TO B.C. 332.
1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

THESE HAVE BEEN BASED ON THE LIST OF

MANETHO, AN EGYPTIAN PRIEST WHO LIVED
ABOUT B.C. 300, AND COMPILED A HISTORY OF
EGYPT IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE.

*image source: Wikipedia

 1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

1. PREHISTORIC PERIOD, B.C. 23000 (?)-4777.

2. THE ANCIENT EMPIRE (DYNASTIES I.-X.), B.C. 4777-2821
 1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

THE STEP PYRAMID OF NETJERIKHET DJOSER

[THE ANCIENT EMPIRE; DYNASTY III, BC 2700]

*IMAGE SOURCE: LEHNER, COMPLETE PYRAMIDS, PG. 87

 1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

CHEOPS’ GREAT PYRAMID OF GIZA; CHEPHREN’S GREAT SPHINX

[THE ANCIENT EMPIRE; DYNASTY IV, BC 2600]

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE, BRITANNICA

 1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

1. THE MIDDLE EMPIRE (DYNASTIES XI.-XVI.), B.C.

2821-1738.
 1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

(AMENEMHAT III) PYRAMID OF HAWARA; GIANT WATERWHEELS OF FAIYUM

[THE MIDDLE EMPIRE; DYNASTY XII, BC 1860-1814]

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE,

 1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

1. THE NEW EMPIRE (DYNASTIES XVII.-XX.), B.C. 1738-950.

 1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

THE TOMB OF YOUNG PHARAOH TUTANKHAMUN

[THE NEW EMPIRE; DYNASTY XVIII, BC 1324 ]

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE

1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

ABU SIMBEL (RAMSES II)

[THE NEW EMPIRE; DYNASTY XIX, BC 1297-1213]

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE, BRITANNICA

1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

RAMESSEUM (RAMSES II)

[THE NEW EMPIRE; DYNASTY XIX, BC 1297-1213]

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE, BRITANNICA

 1. INFLUENCES
VI. HISTORICAL

7. THE GRECO-ROMAN PERIOD, B.C. 332-A.D. 640:

I. ALEXANDER THE GREAT AND PTOLEMAIC PERIOD, B.C. 332-30.
II. THE ROMAN PERIOD, B.C. 3O-A.D. 395.
III. THE BYZANTINE PERIOD, A.D. 395-640.
8. MEDIEVAL EGYPT (MAHOMETAN PERIOD), A.D. 640-1517.
9. MODERN EGYPT (TURKISH DOMINATION), A.D. 1517 TO THE PRESENT
TIME.*
 SOURCES:
● FLETCHER, A HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE, P. 9-31
● Predynastic Period in Egypt - World History Encyclopedia
● Dynasties [ushistory.org]
2. ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
PRIMITIVE EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
EXTERNAL FEATURES

THE USE OF REEDS

❖ THE PRIMITIVE STRUCTURE WAS
COMPOSED OF MUD OR PUDDLED CLAY
AND BUNDLES OF REEDS BOUND
TOGETHER.
❖ PROTOTYPE OF THE
CONSTRUCTION OF EGYPTIAN
WALLS.

*IMAGE SOURCE: TOUR EGYPT

THE ANCIENT DYNASTY: ARCHITECTURE
EXTERNAL FEATURES

BATTERED WALLS
❖ ACCORDING TO VIOLLET-LE-DUC
(FRENCH ARCHITECT), THERE WAS A
CUSTOM TO BUILD BATTERED
WALLS, IN ORDER TO GET MORE
RESISTANCE AGAINST NATURAL
CALAMITIES.
❖ THIS CUSTOM WAS DERIVED
FROM THE PYRAMIDS.

*IMAGE SOURCE: TOUR EGYPT

 Mortise and Tenon Joints

❖ A union between two planks (xed

tenons) shaped to fit a cavity
(mortise) into a second timber.
❖ These were used for stools and
ship hulls

*IMAGE SOURCE: TOUR EGYPT

 ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CORNICE

❖ ITS ORIGIN IS HELD TO BE DUE TO

THE PRESSURE OF THE CLAY, OF
WHICH PRIMITIVE ROOFS WERE
CONSTRUCTED, AND ON THE
UPRIGHT REEDS, WHICH FORMED
THE FRAMEWORKS OF THE
WALLS.

*IMAGE SOURCE: TOUR EGYPT

= ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CORNICE =

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
INTERNAL ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

COLUMNS
❖ SHOWS DISTINCT
REMINISCENCE OF
THE PRIMITIVE REEDS
TIED TOGETHER AT
INTERVALS, AND
CROWNED WITH THE
LOTUS BUD.

*IMAGE SOURCE: EGYPTARTSITE.COM

= COLUMNS AT BENI-HASAN =

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE

 SURFACE DECORATION
❖ THE WALL SURFACES WERE
PLASTERED TO CREATE AN
ADMIRABLE FIELD OF DECORATION
AND INSTRUCTION THROUGH THE
USE OF HIEROGLYPHICS.

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE

The Middle Kingdom: ARCHITECTURE

STELAE (mid-third millennium BCE)

❖ These are stone slabs that has
multiple purpose:

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE

 1. OBELISKS
❖ A Tall, four sided, pyramid topped,
Territorial Markers on entrances
and temples; they’re symbolic for the
existence of their (God RA).
Examples were the Red Granite
Obelisk of Senusret I, Modern
Heliopolis, Dynasty XII.

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE

 2. Publishing Decrees
❖ Record Laws, decrees,
honours, mortgaged
properties and military
commemoration. An
example is the Annals of
Amenemhat II.

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE

 3. Funerary Stelae
❖ Built in honour of the
deceased, with their
names and titles

*IMAGE SOURCE: GOOGLE

 ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE

CONCLUSION:

❖ ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE HAS A CHARACTER OF IMMENSE SOLIDITY,

AND USUALLY OF GRAND UNIFORMITY.
❖ THE BUILDINGS DECREASE IN HEIGHT FROM FRONT TO BACK, PRESENTING A
DISCONNECTED COLLECTION OF VARIOUS SIZED STRUCTURES, OFTEN BUILT AT
DIFFERENT TIMES.
❖ THE CHARACTER OF THE TOMBS PRODUCE AN EFFECT OF GLOOM AND
SOLEMNITY ON THE SPECTATOR.
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
THE SPHINX
❖ ITS DATE IS UNKNOWN, IS SITUATED
NEAR THE GREAT PYRAMIDS, IN THE
CENTER OF AN ANCIENT STONE
QUARRY, AND THE STONE CUTS
RESEMBLE THE SPHINX.
❖ IT WAS EXCAVATED BY CAPTAIN
CAVIGLIA, WHO FOUND A TEMPLE
BETWEEN THE PAWS, AND IT HAS BEEN
EXAMINED BY MARIETTE AND MASPERO
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
THE SPHINX
❖ THE EGYPTIAN SPHINX WHICH
REPRESENTS A RECUMBENT LION WITH
THE HEAD OF A MAN, HAS THE
DIMENSION OF THE FF:
➢ 65 ft HIGH
➢ 188 ft. LONG
➢ THE FACE IS 13 FT. AND 6 IN. WIDE.
➢ THE MOUTH IS 8 FT. AND 6 IN. LONG.
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
THE PYRAMIDS
❖ THE PYRAMIDS OF GIZEH NEAR CAIROH, ALL ERECTED DURING THE 4TH
DYNASTY (3998-B.C.-3721), FORM ONE OF SEVERAL GROUPS WITHIN THE
NECROPOLIS OF THE ANCIENT CAPITAL CITY OF MEMPHIS TOGETHER WITH
OTHER GROUPS CALLED ABU-ROASH, ZAWIYET-EL-ARYAN, ABUSIR, SAKKARA,
AND DASHUR.
❖ RANK AMONG THE OLDEST MONUMENTS OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE.
❖ BUILT BY THE KINGS AS THEIR FUTURE TOMBS, TO SECURE IMMORTALITY BY
THE PRESERVATION OF THE MUMMY.
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
THE PYRAMIDS
❖ THE GREAT PYRAMID BY CHEOPS
(KHUFU) B.C. 3733-B.C. 3600
❖ THE SECOND PYRAMID BY
CEPHRON (KHAFRA) B.C. 3666-B.C.
3633
❖ THE THIRD PYRAMID BY MYCERINOS
(MENKHARA) B,C, 3633- B.C. 3600
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
THE PYRAMIDS
❖ THE GREAT PYRAMID OF CHEOPS IS SQUARE ON PLAN, 760 FT EACH WAY
AND THE ORIGINAL HEIGHT WAS 482 FEET
❖ THE FACES OF THE PYRAMID ARE EQUILATERAL TRIANGLES LAID
SLOPING AND MEETING IN A POINT.
❖ THE SIDES FACE DIRECTLY TO THE NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST AS IN
ALL THE PYRAMIDS, AND THEY MAKE AN ANGLE WITH THE GROUND OF 51
DEGREES 50 MINS.
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
THE PYRAMIDS
❖ THE ENTRANCE ON THE
NORTHERN SIDE, IS NOW
REACHED BY MEANS OF AN
EARTHEN EMBANKMENT. THIS
PASSAGE HEADS TOWARDS THE
HEART OF THE PYRAMID WHERE
THE KING’S CHAMBER IS
SITUATED.
❖ THIS CHAMBER IS PLACED IN THE
SARCOPHAGUS OF THE KING
CONTAINING HIS EMBALMED BODY.
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
THE PYRAMIDS
❖ THERE WERE TWO OTHER
CHAMBERS IN THE GREAT
PYRAMID, ONE KNOWN AS THE
QUEEN’S CHAMBER, CONNECTED
WITH A PASSAGE LEADING OFF
THAT TO THE KING’S CHAMBER..
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
THE TOMBS
❖ THE ANCIENT EMPIRE THE MASTABAS, WERE RECTANGULAR STRUCTURES,
WITH SIDES SLOPING AT AN ANGLE OF 75 DEGREES, AND FLAT ROOFS. IT
IS DIVIDED INTO 3 PARTS:
➢ THE OUTER CHAMBER- PLACED THE OFFERINGS TO THE “KA”
➢ THE INNER SECRET CHAMBER- KNOWN AS THE “SERDABS”
➢ A WELL OF GREAT DEPTH
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
❖ THE MASTABA OF THY, SAKKARA, THE TOMBS
DATES BACK TO THE 5TH DYNASTY,
AND WAS ERECTED TO THY, WHO IN HIS
DAY HELD THE POSITION OF ROYAL
ARCHITECT AND MANAGER OF THE
ARCHITECTS.
❖ IT CONSISTS OF SMALL VESTIBULE,
BEYOND WHICH IS A LARGE COURT
WHERE THE OFFERINGS TO THE
DECEASED TOOK PLACE. AND FROM
WHICH A MUMMY SHAFT LED THROUGH
A PASSAGE TO A TOMB CHAMBER.
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
THE TOMBS
❖ THE MASTABA OF THY,
SAKKARA, THE PRINCIPAL
RELIEFS ARE IN THE SECOND
CHAMBER.
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
❖ THE TOMBS AT BENI-HASAN, IN UPPER THE TOMBS
EGYPT, FORM A REMARKABLE GROUP OF
THESE ROCK-CUT EXAMPLES.
❖ THERE ARE 39 IN ALL. ARRANGED IN A ROW
IN THE ROCKS. MADE DURING THE 12TH
DYNASTY (B.C. 2778-2565).
❖ TOMB 2- AMENEMHAT, KNOWN AS AMENY,
NOMARCH UNDER SENUSRET I
❖ TOMB 3- KHNUMHOTEP II, NOTABLE FOR THE
DEPICTION OF CARAVANS OF SEMITIC
TRADERS.
❖ TOMB 4- KHNUMHOTEP IV, NOMARCH DURING
THE LATE 12TH DYNASTY.
 EXAMPLE OF EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
LUXOR TEMPLE
❖ A LARGE TEMPLE COMPLEX, THE
TEMPLE WAS BUILT AROUND 1400 B.C.
AND WAS DEDICATED TO THE GOD AND
FOR “REJUVENATION OF KINGSHIP” AS
MANY OF EGYPTIAN KINGS WERE
CROWNED THERE.
3. COMPARATIVE
 3. COMPARATIVE
A. PLANS

● HYPOSTYLE HALL
● MASSIVE PYLONS ORNAMENTED
3. COMPARATIVE
A. PLANS
 3. COMPARATIVE
B. WALLS

● IMMENSELY THICK
● GRANITE
● BRICK FACED WITH GRANITE
● FACES OF TEMPLE WALLS ARE SLOPE INWARDS OR BATTER
TOWARDS THE TOP
● COLUMNS ARE NOT FOUND
● WALLS ARE GENERALLY COVERED WITH FINE PLASTER
3. COMPARATIVE
B. WALLS
 3. COMPARATIVE
C. OPENINGS

● SQUARE-HEADED
● COVERED WITH MASSIVE LINTELS
3. COMPARATIVE
C. OPENINGS
 3. COMPARATIVE
D. ROOFS

● MASSIVE BLOCK OF STONES

● FLAT
● SLIGHTLY ARCHED IN ROCK-CUT TEMPLES
● WINDOW OPENINGS
3. COMPARATIVE
D. ROOFS
 3. COMPARATIVE
E. COLUMNS

● PAPYRUS
● LOTUS
○ THE LOTUS BED
○ THE FULLY GROWN LOTUS
○ THE “PALM CAPITAL”
● SELDOM OVER SIX DIAMETERS IN HEIGHT
3. COMPARATIVE
E. COLUMNS
 3. COMPARATIVE
F. MOULDINGS

● GORGE AND HALLOW

● BEAD
3. COMPARATIVE
F. MOULDINGS
 3. COMPARATIVE
G. ORNAMENTS

● SOLAR DISC OR GLOBE

● VULTURE WITH OUTSPREAD WINGS
● DIAPER PATTERNS, SPIRALS AND FEATHER
● SCARAB OR SACRED BEETLE
3. COMPARATIVE
G. ORNAMENTS