Egyptian Art Chapter 3 Summary
Chapter 3: Egyptian Art c. 3500 – 30 BC
• Ancient Egyptian civilization, like the civilizations of Sumer and the Indus Valley, grew up along a great river (Nile) that provided irrigation for agriculture and also a thoroughfare for transport of men and materials.
• Largely a desert country crossed on a SN axis by the Nile river
Nile:
• Central role in Egyptian economy
• Annual floods –constant & dependable occurrence (the flood water carried rich slit which was eventually deposited over the alluvial plain –agriculture)
• Nile not only shaped their lives, it shaped their beliefs
• Along with Nile the Sun was also worshiped
• Sun = Re, father of the gods
• in Egyptian art, nearly everything had a specific or indirect religious significance, …show more content…
AMARNA PERIOD
• Egyptian religion remained remarkably uniform throughout its more that 3000 years – with one exception.
• For about 2 decades at the end of the 18th dynasty Akhenaton promoted a view of the world that challenged the traditional Egyptian beliefs and traditions.
• The pharaoh’s original name was Amenhotep IV– and changed later to Akhenaton to reflect his devotion to Aton. (the name Amenhotep included the name of the god Amun in its content)
• Akhenaton claimed that the he had a vision in which Aton himself dictated the need for religious reform. .
• Akhenaton’s changes affected most aspects of the Egyptian culture.
• He replaced the multitude of Gods that the Egyptians worshiped with a single God – Aton – a minor god until now, elevated at this time as the sole creator of the universe.
• Akhenaton - closed all temples dedicated to other gods
• proclaimed himself the high priest of Aton
• all worship was done through the king and the royal family
• Priests that until now represented a wealthy powerful class were stripped of their influence and source of
• Ancient Egyptian civilization, like the civilizations of Sumer and the Indus Valley, grew up along a great river (Nile) that provided irrigation for agriculture and also a thoroughfare for transport of men and materials.
• Largely a desert country crossed on a SN axis by the Nile river
Nile:
• Central role in Egyptian economy
• Annual floods –constant & dependable occurrence (the flood water carried rich slit which was eventually deposited over the alluvial plain –agriculture)
• Nile not only shaped their lives, it shaped their beliefs
• Along with Nile the Sun was also worshiped
• Sun = Re, father of the gods
• in Egyptian art, nearly everything had a specific or indirect religious significance, …show more content…
AMARNA PERIOD
• Egyptian religion remained remarkably uniform throughout its more that 3000 years – with one exception.
• For about 2 decades at the end of the 18th dynasty Akhenaton promoted a view of the world that challenged the traditional Egyptian beliefs and traditions.
• The pharaoh’s original name was Amenhotep IV– and changed later to Akhenaton to reflect his devotion to Aton. (the name Amenhotep included the name of the god Amun in its content)
• Akhenaton claimed that the he had a vision in which Aton himself dictated the need for religious reform. .
• Akhenaton’s changes affected most aspects of the Egyptian culture.
• He replaced the multitude of Gods that the Egyptians worshiped with a single God – Aton – a minor god until now, elevated at this time as the sole creator of the universe.
• Akhenaton - closed all temples dedicated to other gods
• proclaimed himself the high priest of Aton
• all worship was done through the king and the royal family
• Priests that until now represented a wealthy powerful class were stripped of their influence and source of