HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE AND SETTLEMENTS

Lecture- 3
Egyptian civilization
 TODAY’S SESSION

Recap

Karnak Temple

Temple of Luxor

Abu Simbel

Pyramids of Giza

Settlement- Tel-El- Amarna

 Recap

•Pyramids

•Mastabas

•Rock cut tombs

•Mortuary temples

•Temples

•Palaces

•statues
Location Map

Pyramids of Giza

Tel - el- Amarna

Temple of Karnak & Luxor

Abu Simbel
Location Map - Karnak

Temple of Karnak & Luxor

Karnak Temple

Who was Amun?

Principal god of “Theban Triad”

In 11th Dynasty the position of patron

deity of Thebes rose- Amun

Amun acquired national importance and

this was expressed in his fusion with the
sun god- Ra

“Amun- Ra”

Most recorded god Supreme god

Theban Triad

Amun (father) Mut (mother) Khonsu (moon god)

Karnak Temple
Karnak Temple

Known as
Ipet- isut
meaning
most
selected of
places
Karnak Temple

Temple
construction
started
during 11th
dynasty

Major work
done during
18th dynasty
Karnak Temple

Thutmose I erected enclosure around

middle kingdom sanctuary.

Contains 14 papyrus
columns and 2 obelisks
of Hatshepsut
Karnak Temple
Thutmose III and Hatshepsut made
another enclosure and also created
sacred lake.

The main temple was extended by 50%

by making Akh-menu of Tuthmosis
III (most glorious of monuments)

Period of interruption- Amarna Period

Karnak Temple
Erection of 9th pylon
happened during reign of
Tutankhamen and Horemheb

18th & 19th Dynasty

Construction of Hypostyle
hall began– Ramesses II

Cachette court
commemorating victory of
Merenptah was made- this
was the starting court to the
processional route to Luxor
temple.

Hypostyle hall
Karnak Temple
2 small obelisks were added
and a triple bark shrine was
made by Merenptah.

20th Dynasty
Very little construction was
done at this time as the power
of Egyptian empire declined

Temple of Khonsu was built.

A large Bark station was

added in front of 2nd pylon by
Ramesses III
Bark shrine- model
Karnak Temple
22th Dynasty TIP

Creation of colonnade and

gateway near 2nd Pylon

New construction surrounded

bark shrines and walls were
created.

25th Dynasty TIP

Avenue of sphinx were

moved to the sides of court
Karnak Temple
25th Dynasty TIP

Avenue of sphinx were

moved to the sides of court
Karnak Temple
30th Dynasty LP

Major changes in the temple

complex- addition of 1st
Pylon and massive enclosure
wall

This completed the layout of

the temple started by 11th
dynasty pharaohs

Ptolemaic

Replacement of shrine of
Thutmose III

Opet temple made

QUESTIONS?
Karnak Temple
FOR STUDENTS TO
STUDY- 1 paragraph (1/2
page on each ) and ½ page
sketches

Different types of columns-

Banister Fletcher

Different components of an
Egyptian temple
Temple of Luxor
Temple of Luxor
Temple of Luxor

Known as Ipt- Rsyt- meaning the southern shrine

Karnak temple Luxor temple

Northern house of Amun-Ra Southern Shrine of Amun-Ra

Amenhotep III built the temple of Luxor

Ramesses II added the front part of the temple and

added a large forecourt and a Pylon.

Alexander the great re-built the sanctuary and during

the Christian era, the inner section was converted to a
church.
Temple of Luxor
The avenue of sphinx was built by king Nektanebo that leads to the entrance.
Temple of Luxor
In front of the great pylon of Ramesses II there were 2 obelisks, only one of
them remains now.

Flanking the gate to the first pylon, there are two seated colossi representing
king Ramesses II seated on his throne.
Temple of Luxor
The first open court has double rows of 32 papyrus bud columns
The first court- court of Ramesses II
Temple of Luxor
To the right of this court is a small
triple shrine made by queen
Hatshepsut dedicated to sacred boats of
“triad of Thebes”

The open court of Ramesses II leads to

the colonnade build by Amenhotep III

This leads to court

of Amenhotep III
Temple of Luxor
court of Amenhotep III consists of 32 columns arranged in 4 rows and 8
columns in each row.

court of Amenhotep III

Temple of Luxor
To the left of Hypostyle
hall stands Roman altar
bearing Latin
inscriptions dedicated to
king Augustus.

On the rear of hypostyle

hall there are two
chapels- Mut (E) and
Khonso (W)

The main sanctuary

once contained golden
plated statue of Amun
Ra.
Temple of Luxor

main sanctuary at Luxor

Temple of Luxor
The Muslims built a mosque in the 10th century- mosque of Abu- el - Hagag
Temple of Luxor
The Muslims built a mosque in the 10th century- mosque of Abu- el - Hagag
Temple of Luxor
The Muslims built a mosque in the 10th century- mosque of Abu- el - Hagag
QUESTIONS?
Temple of Luxor
FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY (2 A4 pages with sketches

Temple of Isis

History of temple
Elements of temple
Abu Simbel

Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel

Ramesses II had two temples carved out of solid

rock at a site on the west bank of river Nile
Abu Simbel

It is dedicated to Sun god Amun

Ra and Ra Horakhte.

Carved out of a sand stone cliff

The 20 m high seated figures

are set against the recessed cliff.

Two on either side of the

entrance.

Small figures near the feet of

Ramesses, represent his
children.
 Abu Simbel
The temple consists of 3
consecutive halls
extending upto 56 m into
the cliff.

The north of the temple is

a small chamber dedicated
to Nefrtari for the worship
of goddess Hathor.

This contains 10.5 m tall

statues of the king and
queen.
Abu Simbel

On 2 days of the year- 22 Feb and 22 Oct the first rays of the morning Sun penetrate
the whole length of the temple and illuminate the shrine in its innermost sanctuary.
This painting is filled with symbolic papyrus flowers. The cow on the boat is the
goddess Hathor
 Abu Simbel

Re constructing of Abu Simbel 60m higher than before due to 20th century Dam
construction.

In all 16,000 blocks were moved- Abu Simbel is a UNESCO world heritage site.
QUESTIONS?
 Abu Simbel
FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY ( 1 A4 page each)

Rock cut tombs

Elements of rock cut temples

Pyramids of Giza

Pyramids of Giza
Pyramids of Giza
Pyramids of Giza
There are total 3 Pyramids at Giza

Pyramid of
Cheops
(Khufu)
Pyramid of
Chephren
(Khafre)
Pyramid of
Mycerinus
(Menkaure)

oldest

Largest also known as Great Pyramid

Pyramids of Giza
Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)

Pyramid was constructed over

a period of 20 years.

It is 149.59 m high and covers

about 13 acres of land.

The pyramid was constructed

out of cut and dressed stones
of Lime, Basalt and Granite

High quality stones were used

externally and low quality
stones were used internally.
Complete pyramid was
covered in lime stone casing.-
Pyramids of Giza

Inside the
pyramid-
Pyramids of Giza

Empty kings
chamber

Empty queens
chamber
QUESTIONS?
Pyramids of Giza
FOR STUDENTS TO STUDY 1 pager A4 with sketches.

Details of components from Fletcher

Other pyramid complex- Djoser etc

Study section and orientation of Pyramids

Settlement- Tel-El- Amarna
Settlement- Tel-El- Amarna

About Aten and Akhnaten

Settlement- Tel-El- Amarna

Structure of Society

Pharaoh

Officials, nobles and priests

Artists, craftsmen, educator

Workers, pesants

Sem
Priests were
very powerful
Weeb
Settlement- Tel-El- Amarna

Nefretiti

Amenhotep IV- Akhnaten

Settlement- Tel-El- Amarna
Settlement- Tel-El- Amarna

Main city plan Amarna

Settlement- Tel-El- Amarna

Middle class house forms

Pyramids of Giza
FOR STUDENTS TO
STUDY
Details of Amarna

Important buildings at Amarna.

QUESTIONS?