ARTH 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Saqqara, Narmer, Mastaba
18 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife motivated the creation of much art and architecture. Created monumental structures in stone at a very early date. Kings used art and architecture not only to display power but also to carry out their religious duties. Style of representing human figures expressed a belief in the eternal and unchanging nature of the ka -- the soul. Consistent and recognizable egyptian style was maintained for 3,000 years. Lower nile (north) -- nile delta (red crown, papyrus, cobra) Upper egypt (south) -- region closer to the nile"s source (white crown, lotus, vulture) The annual flooding of the nile: a cycle of barrenness and growth. The daily disappearance and reappearance of the sun; a cycle of death and resurrection. Sun god-- that sun god must be making a journey into the underworld where he battled in against the evil forces and rebirthed in the morning. Human king that was killed and hacked apart, wife put back together.
