1Egypt (Giza pyramids, Sakkara, mastabas, Middle Kingdom Kahun) Difference Between Mesopotamia & Ancient Egypt● both developed in regions linked to Rivers● In Mesopotamia, intensive irrigation agriculture and intercommunication between regions led to competition, conflict and the emergence of city-states● In Egypt, the Nile River acted as a vehicle of intercommunication, agriculture and economic growth and was a physical & symbolic unifying force● In Egypt, cities developed rather late compared to Mesopotamian cities (cities were irrelevant to Egyptian cultural identity)● city-state vs. territorial stateArchaic Period● Egypt was a “territorial state” and a political unity extending over a vast regionPredynastic Period (period before unification of Egypt and before royal dynasties)● 4600-3050 BC● Early village farming communities had developed but were still dependent on natural resources ofthe Nile● Excavated sites in the Fayum and other places in Lower Egypt contained simple houses with ovalor roughly square plans, sunken floors and mud walls○ burials were within the settlements rather than separate● “Badarian” period in Middle Egypt○ ceramic technology improved○ burials show a remarkable array of burial goods○ showed the beginnings of an interest in construction and standardization of tombs and differentiation of individuals○ polished pottery with a distinct blackened top was common○ standard tomb type- simple pit-grave or cist■ the body is oriented toward the south (the Nile) with the face looking toward the west (setting sun)○ grave goods included:■ flint knives■ strings of shells■ ivory and bone tools■ figurines● “Nagada” period○ growing differentiation of tomb types○ growing differentiation in cemeteries (clearly elite tomb groups)○ gradual increase in the quantity and range of burial offerings along with differentiation in burial assemblages■ this evidence suggests economic and social stratificationUnification● by the end of Nagada, it is believed that two kingdoms existed: one in the south in “Upper Egypt” (This and Abydos) and another in the north in “Lower Egypt” (Delta)● Not only were there close economic ties, but also ideological and cultural similarities2Abydos● First royal cemetery (2900 BC)● In Upper Egypt● has funerary enclosures (associated with royal burials) (Saqqara does not have these features)● Mortuary cult- fed King’s ka (remember the difference between ka, ba, and akh)○ ka: “spirit for eternity”- essentially a person’s double. The reason for extensive and elaborate preparation for the body for the after-life was to ensure the ka had a home○ ba: the king’s divine spirit; part of the soul that could travel between the worlds of the living and the dead. Represented by a human-headed bird○ akh: “transfigured spirit that survived death and mingled with the gods”. ONLY allowed tosouls who were worthy because they were good people in their past lives■ http://myweb.usf.edu/~liottan/theegyptiansoul.htmlSaqqara● Location: Below Giza and West of Cairo○ In Lower Egypt● In the 3rd Dynasty, it becomes the lead temple complex because Memphis was made into the capital● Djoser Complex○ built of dressed stone designed to resemble mud brick○ combined tomb building (Mastaba) and the mortuary place into a single structure○ space within the enclosure is divided into two main areas: the south court and the heb sed court■ Heb Sed -> ceremony that celebrated the continued rule of a pharaoh.○ south court symbolizes the physical extent of Egypt. Stepped pyramid marks the northernedge of the court, the symbolic center of Saqqara, the northern royal cemetery. ■ incorporated characteristics of both LE and UE ○ Step pyramid - first royal pyramid ■ expanded three times■ backdrop for the tomb ○ heb sed court was used for the heb sed ceremony■ 2 throned platform in the middle ■ continued rule of the king over a unified Egypt○ Mastaba then builds upwards○ Cenotaphs: empty tombs meant for ka ○ Serdab - ka can look out at people who gives it offerings (chamber for statue of king)○ Architecture of Djoser’s complex recreates a microcosm of all of Egypt ○ representative of:■ increased resources investment in resources for the funerary cult■ role of the Kings cult which binds upper and lower egypt■ belief in the continuation of Ba and Ka in order to maintain balance in the universe● Main mortuary cult after power shifted○ consolidation of power● Mortuary temple for the cult had an eastern aspect facing towards the rise of the sunThe Pyramid Complex● Parts of the Pyramid Complex○ Monumental superstructure: Pyramid○ Tomb: either underground or at the base of the superstructure○ Mortuary Temple■ place of cult offerings and sacrifice to the Ka via statues● Sphinx is a giant statue in honor of Khafre3● significance was protecting the king○ Temenos Wall■ The Temenos wall are made of mud brick and the gateway of stone. The type of building technique used in the walls is called Pan Bedding. It allowed the walls to move without collapsing as the ground expanded and contracted from the annualflood. ○ Main Passage: ceremonial route from the alluvium to the pyra. complex○ “Valley” Temple: entrance to the complex○ “Satellite” pyramid: smaller pyramids for the kings Ka○ Queen’s Pyramid○ Boat Pits● Importance of the Pyramid Complex○ the pyramid is truly public architecture and therefore the mortuary complex must be seen as a civic architectural display ○ building the pyramid affirmed the social and political unity of Egypt○ Pyramids were meant to be seen as a visualization of power ○ Pyramids paid homage to either:■ Re: the sun god■ Benben: the primordial mound where life came fromGizaMastabas/ what all was important about the Giza Complex● major tombs were constructed during the Fourth Dynasty○ three of the six Fourth Dynasty kings were buried there● Three monumental pyramids and The Great Sphinx● Featured smaller pyramids for the queens● This funerary complex gives clues to the socio-economic conditions of that time● Largest pyramid- that of Khufu, Second largest- Khafre (Khufu’s son), Third main pyramid- Menkaure (Khufu’s brother)● Each pyramid had two temples in which rites were performed○ The Great Sphinx accompanies Khafre’s temple (may be a portrait of