EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE 3,200 B.C. - FIRST CENTURY A.D.

INFLUENCES

GEOGRAPHICAL
Egypt consist of a narrow strip of fertile, alluvial soil along both banks of the Nile. The Nile was the trade route to Eastern and Western foreign trade.

The primitive architecture in the valley of the Nile consisted of available and tractable materials like reeds,papyrus and palm-branch ribs,plastered over with clay. The pressure of the flat reed and mud roofs may produced Egyptian gorge cornice.

As the inner face of the walls had to be vertical for the convenience,it was the outer face only which showed the inclination Batter, which remain the one of principal characteristics of Egyptian architecture. Walls such as those around the great temple enclosures were very thick between 9m (30 ft.) and 24.5m (80 ft.).

GEOLOGICAL
Stone is abundant in Egypt in quantity and variety. Gigantic scale which distinguishes Egyptian architecture was made not only by materials,but also by methods of quarrying,transporting and raising block of stones. Quarrying-was done withbcopper tools and by the used of timber wedges.

CLIMATIC
Egypt has only two seasons. * Spring * Summer The climate is warm;snow is unknown,rain is rare and thus contributed to the preservation of buildings.

Egyptian columns have distinctive character:

* * * * vegetable origin bundles of plant stems the lotus bud papyrus flower or the Ubiquitous palm

Egyptian monumental architecture, which is essentially a columnar and trabeated style, is expressed mainly in pyramids and other tombs and in temples.
Sphinxes mythical monsters with body of lion and head of a man.

Pylon- monumental gateway to an Egyptian temple consisting of slanting walls flanking the entrance portal.

EXAMPLES:
1.Tomb Architecture Type A Mastaba - An ancient Egyptian rectangular, flat-topped funerary mound,with battered(sloping) sides,covering a burial chamber below ground.

Type B Royal Pyramids

- A massive funerary structure of stone or brick with a square base and four sloping triangular sides meeting at tha apex. The finest true pyramids are the famous three at GIZEH,built by the fourth dynasty successors of Seneferu.

Pyramids did not stand in solitary isolation but were the primary part of complex of building. They were surrounded by a walled enclosure and had the following:
a. An offering chapel with a stele, usually abutting the east side of the pyramid but occasionally on the North. b. A mortuary temple for the worship of died and deified Pharoah. c. A raised and enclosed causeway leadinf to the nearer. d. Valley buildingin which embalment was carried out and interment rites performed.

HIEROGLYPHICS- a pictographic script, particularly of that ancient Egyptians.

The surface of decoration of the masonry walls is also held to have been derived from the practice of scratching pictures on the early mud-plaster walls.

Pyramids were built with immense outlay in labour and materials. - it was built in the series of concentric sloping slices or layers around a steep pyramidal core - and were founded on the living rocks.

Diodorus Siculus greek contemporary of Julius Caesar wrote the pyramid had been constructed by the used of mounds or ramps.

Ramps made of rubble and builders.

The valley temple was probably brought by barge for three important ceremonies: * first was concerned with ritual purity. * next was to prepare his body for its eternity of repose. * last and most important was rhe opening of the mouth.

The Great Pyramid of Cheops

Largest ofvthe famous three on this site,was originally 146.4m (480 ft.high) and 230.6m (756 ft.) square on plan with an are of 13 acres. There are three separate internal chamber and the socalled Queens chamber are discarded projects,abandoned in favour of the Kings chamber were the granite sarcophagus (riched carved coffin) is located.

Pyramid of Chephren is the second of the three at Gizeh 216m (708 ft.) side and 143m (470 ft.) high, 5252 steep slope.

Pyramid of Mykerinos smaller of the three and is 109m (356 ft.) square and 66.5m (218 ft.)high with sides sloping at 51.

Type C Rock-Hewn Tombs A type serving for the nobility rather than loyalty.

2. Temples Type A Mortuary Temples - for ministrations to deified pharaohs. - chapels of the royal mastabas and pyramids Type B Cult Temples for the popular worship of the ancient and mysterious gods. -began ib worship of multifarious local deities. - original essentials were a rectangular palisaded court,entered from a narrow end by pennonpoles.

Examples:
1.The Great Temple of Ammon,Karnak,Thebes - The grandest of all Egyptians,was not built upon one complete but owes its size,disposition and magnificence to the work of kings.

2.The Great Temple of Abu-Simbel - one of the rock-hewn temples at the place commanded by the indefatigable Rameses.

3. Temple of khons -a cult temple, maybe taken as the usual type, characterized by the entrance pylons,court,hypostyle hall,sanctuary, and various chapels,all enclosed by a high girdle wall.

3.Obelisks -originating in the sacred symbol of sun God Heliopolis,and which usually stood in pairs astride temple entrances.

4. Dwellings -Clay models deposited in tombs indicated that ordinary dwellings were of crude brick,one or two storey high,with flat or arched ceilings and parapeted roof partly occupied by aloggia (a gallery behind an open arcade or colonnade)

5. Fortresses - most of fortresses are on the west bank nile or on the islands.there was close communication between one fortress and the next, with the headquartersat buhen ,the largest stronghold.