History of

Architecture
EGYPTIAN
ARCHITECTURE
 The
Historical
Timeline of
Architecture

Egyptian

Pre-Historic
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
INFLUENCESA.D.]

GEOGRAPHICAL

• Egypt consists of a sandy desert with a

strip of fertile and arable land on the
banks of the Nile River.

• The possession of the Nile, moreover,

was of immense advantage, not only
on account of its value as a trade route,
and as a means of communication, but
also because its waters were the
fertilizing agents that made desert
sands into fruitful fields.

• It was on the banks of this ancient

river
that the cities of the Egyptians were
naturally placed; thus the chief
remains of the Tombs, Temples, and
PRE-HISTORIC Pyramids are found in this area.
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
“NILE RIVER, the Life of Egypt”
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]
• Existed an abundance of limestone in
GEOLOGICAL
the north; sandstone in the central
region; and of granite in the south
(Syene). Said stones were used for
the construction of temples, and
tombs. Gold were also found in Nubia
in the South

• Bricks (sun-dried) were also employed,

and were used for the construction of
houses, and palaces.

• There were very little building timber,

but the indigenous date palm, was
sometimes used in logs, for roofing.

• Palm leaves, reeds and rushes used to

frame or reinforce mudbrick
constructions, or as mats for such as
panels, partitions and fences, had a
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN great and permanent influence on the
MESOPOTAMIAN form and character of stone
GREEK
ROMAN
architecture.
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
CLIMATE Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
• The climate is uniform and of warm A.D.]
temperature. An intact body is an integral part
• Mummification
• Two seasons - spring and of a person's afterlife & assuring
• summer. Snow is non-existent & themselves a successful rebirth
Rain is rare into the afterlife.
Effects of Climate on Egyptian Architecture:
• Simple design & Construction Method Without a physical body there is
• Few windows no shadow, no name, no spirit,
• Flat roof no personality & no immortality.
• Massive walls Tutankhamun’s
Mummy
RELIGION
King Tutankhamun
• In theory, the religion was
ruled Egypt from
Monotheistic,
but in practice it’s Polytheistic. 1333-1324 BC,
ascending the
• The Egyptians were strong believers in a
throne at age nine.
future state (after life); hence their care in
the preservation of their dead
(mummification) and the erection of
everlasting monuments such as
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
pyramids.
MESOPOTAMIAN • Pharaohs/Kings were buried, bringing with
GREEK them the things they might need in the Computer image of his face
ROMAN
EARLY afterlife, even living people.
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
• Tutankhamun’s mummified body was Architecture
contained in 3 coffins or sarcophagi, [4000+ B.C. – 1Tutankhamun’s
st Century
each one within the next. A.D.] Inner Coffin

Tutankhamun’s Made of solid

Outer Coffin gold and weighs
110 kg
Made of gilded
wood covered
with gold

Tutankhamun’s
Death Mask

Made of solid
gold and inlaid
with semi-
Tutankhamun’s precious stones,
Middle Coffin it weighs 11
kilograms.
Made of wood covered
with gold,
semiprecious stones,
glass and obsidian

PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
• There was no dividing line between god Architecture
and king. Often, they filled the double [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
function as kings of their people and A.D.]
priests of their gods, and were King Menkaure - the
MENKAURE TRIAD
last Great Pyramid
themselves gods commanding priestly builder
service. They were frequently
associated in triads. Hathor - the goddess
THEBAN TRIAD of music and love, is
shown to the right of
Menkaure, holding
Amun - the King of
the gods his hand.

To the left of
Mut - consort to Amun
& queen of the gods Menkaure is the
personified 17th
Nome of Upper
Khons - the son of Egypt.
Amun and Mut. The
god of the moon MEMPHIS TRIAD
and time.
Ptah - The chief deity
of Memphis & patron
ABYDOS TRIAD
deity of craftsmen.
Osiris - The god of
Sekhmet - The consort
the underworld.
of Ptah & the giver of
divine retribution,
Isis - The mother of
vengeance, and
PRE-HISTORIC Horus.
EGYPTIAN conquest.
MESOPOTAMIAN
Horus - The child of
GREEK Nefertem - the
Isis and Osiris.
ROMAN Protector of the two
EARLY lands.
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
• The dwelling-house was looked upon by
them as a mere temporary lodging, Architecture
• [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
while the tomb being the permanent
abode, hence, typified in the two A.D.]
predominant types of Egyptian The Kings of ancient Egypt are
buildings: known as Pharaohs (from the title
• Temple Architecture for the gods, “Peraa” meaning “Great House”. The
& pharaoh was the political and
• Tomb Architecture for the dead religious leader holding the titles:
• Society were divided into groups, by order 'Lord of the Two Lands' and 'High
SOCIAL & POLITICAL Pharaohs were:
Priest of Every Temple’.
of importance: senior priests, officials,
• Seen as gods dwelling on earth
noblemen, and army commanders
• Sole masters of the country and
its inhabitants
• Most ordinary Egyptians were farmers • Builders, Leaders; and initiators of
designing, financing, quarrying,
• Craftmanship was highly developed; transporting of materials,
Egyptians had great skill in weaving, glass- organization of labor, and
making, pottery, metal works, jewelry construction of edifices
and
furniture making.
• Workmen were receiving food as their
wage, thus, a state of cheap labor
existed which was eminently favorable to
PRE-HISTORIC
the execution of large and important
EGYPTIAN structures.
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN • War captives were as well put to forced-
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
labor.
 Egyptian
Architecture
Great Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt: [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]
1. Hatshepsut ruled herself as the first
EGYPTIAN ROYAL SYMBOLS
woman pharaoh after the death of
Ankh symbolizes life,
her husband Thutmose II. She ruled
health & strength
with her nephew Thutmose III who
was
2. too young to be the heir. Thutmose
III was called the Napoleon of
ancient Egypt because of his
military genius & built many
3. structures. Eye of Horus symbolizes protection &
Tutankhamun was a young pharaoh royal power.
at the age of 9 so his uncle Ay, who
was the highest minister, ruled for
4. him while he was a boy.
Rameses II was one of the longest
ruling pharaohs of ancient Egypt for
67 years. He lived for over 80 years
with over a dozen wives and more
5. than 100 children.
Cleopatra (Queen of the Nile) was
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN the last pharaoh of ancient Egypt
MESOPOTAMIAN though she was not of Egyptian
GREEK
ROMAN
lineage, being the daughter of
EARLY Ptolemy XII (Greek).
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
Scepter
A.D.]
symbolizes
power, dominion
&
control.
Crook & Flail are Sun Disk
symbols of represents light,
royalty, kingship, warmth & growth.
majesty and
dominion. The
crook is a scepter
symbolizing
government.

Cartouche is a
rope enclosing a
Scarab
royal name in
symbolizes
Egyptian texts
resurrection
PRE-HISTORIC
& rebirth.
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Architecture
• [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
Uraeus/Cobra A.D.]
symbolizes royal
The Egyptians, especially the priests,
protection & the
attained to a very high degree of
Falcon is for
learning in astronomy, mathematics,
divine kingship.
and philosophy which were all written
on a papyrus and stone tablets
They also Heiroglyphics (the god’s words) – Evident in
including music, literature, and
ancient
represent the
history.
Egyptian monuments, is a system of pictorial
unification of writing used by ancient Egyptians to represent
Lower Egypt religious rituals, historic events, and daily pursuits.
(cobra) Papyrus – writing material of ancient times and also
& Upper the plant from which it was derived, Cyperus
Egypt papyrus, also called paper plant. The papyrus plant
was
(falcon). long cultivated in the Nile delta region in Egypt and
was collected for its stalk or stem, whose central pith
was cut into thin strips, pressed together, and dried
Ibis to form a smooth thin writing surface.
symbolizes
reincarnation
and
associated
with the god
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN of wisdom
MESOPOTAMIAN and writing
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
HISTORY Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
• Egyptian civilization is the most ancient A.D.]
of any of which there is a clear
knowledge ; its history is partly derived 4. The New Empire (17th-20th Dynasty),
from Holy Scripture and from Greek B.C. 1738-950. This period had
Thebes as the capital, and many
and Roman authors, but more
imposing buildings were erected at
particularly from the Egyptian buildings, 5. Period ofLuxor,
Foreign Domination (21st–25th
Karnac, and elsewhere.
by which it can be traced back for more Dynasty), B.C. 950-663.
than 4,000 years B.C.
6. The Late Egyptian Period (26th–30th
• Pharaohs were divided into 30 Dynasties Dynasty), B.C. 663-332. This
arranged in the following periods.
period includes the Persian
Domination.
1. Prehistoric Pd. (23,000–4,777 BC) 7. The Graco-Roman Period, B.C. 332
A.D. 640:
2. The Ancient Empire (1st – 10th Dynasty, i. Alexander the Great and Ptolemaic
B.C. 4777-2821). The capital being at Period, B.C. 332-30.
Memphis, the tombs of this period ii. The Roman Period, B.C. 30-A.D.
are at Abydos, Nakadeh, Memphis, 395. iii. The Byzantine Period, A.D.
Sakkara, Gizeh and Abusir. 395-640.
8. Medieval Egypt (Mahometan Period),
3. The Middle Empire (11th-16th Dynasty, A.D. 640-1517.
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN B.C. 2821-1738. A prosperous
MESOPOTAMIAN period in which much building was 9. Modem Egypt (Turkish Domination),
GREEK
ROMAN
carried A.D. 1517 to the present time.
EARLY out. This period includes the
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
GENERAL DISCRIPTION A.D.]

• The primitive architecture in the valley

of
the Nile consisted of readily-available and
malleable materials like reeds, papyrus
and palm-branch
together ribs - reeds
and placed wereinbound
vertically the
ground at intervals, the angle
bundles
being of greater strength. Joining these
reeds, at the top, were laid horizontally • Cut-stones were used for monumental
other bundles, which bound the heads of and religious buildings such as
the uprights together - plastered over with temples and tombs.
clay.
• Sun-dried mud-brick were mainly used for • Palm logs were used for roofs
houses and palaces.
• The jambs and lintels of the doors and
Made of Nile mud and mixed with chopped straw or windows were made of reeds in the
sand and thoroughly matured by exposure to sun humbler dwellings and of palm trunks
the mud bricks were very long lasting and large, in those of more extravagance.
about 356 mm (14 in.) long 178 mm (7 in.) wide
PRE-HISTORIC
and 102 mm (4 in.) thick. • Egyptian monumental architecture,
EGYPTIAN
which is essentially a columnar and
MESOPOTAMIAN • Stone was not much used except as rubble
GREEK trabeated style, is expressed mainly in
and as a stiffening or foundation to mud solid
ROMAN
walls until the third dynasty. pyramids and other tombs and in
EARLY
CHRISTIAN temples.
 Egyptian
• Egyptian molding/cornice originated from Architecture
the pressure of the clay of which primitive [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
•
roofs were constructed – on the upright A.D.]
reeds which formed the framework of the
walls. The surface decoration of the stone
walls was derived from the practice of
scratching pictures (sgraffito) on the
early mud-plaster walls. The flat and
windowless surfaces were eminently
suitable for relief and explanatory
hieroglyphs.

• Batter Wall – wall/s

diminishing course by
course towards the
top for stability
purposes, which
remained one of the
principal
characteristic of
PRE-HISTORIC Egyptian
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
Architecture. The
GREEK outer face of the wall
ROMAN
inclined while the
EARLY
CHRISTIAN inner face remained
 Egyptian
EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE EXAMPLES Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
1. TOMB A.D.]
ARCHITECTURE
Types:
a. Mastaba
b. Royal Pyramids
c. Rock-Hewn
Tombs
A. MASTABA

An ancient Egyptian rectangular, flat topped

funerary mound, with battered (sloping)
sides at 75 degrees, covering a burial
chamber below ground.

1st Dynasty Mastaba

2nd and 3rd Dynasty Mastaba (Stairway
Mastaba)
- Simulates house plans of several small
rooms; a central one containing the
- Tomb chamber, having been sunk
sarcophagus and the other rooms for
much
receiving funerary offerings
- deeper and cut in the rock below.
- Constructed in a broad pit below ground Main axis of the
- Wooden roof supported by wooden posts South & has a tomb
false lay
doorNorth
on and
the
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
or brick pillars southern side allowing the spirit of
MESOPOTAMIAN the
GREEK - Covered by a rectangular flat mound of
dead to enter and leave at will, and has
ROMAN
soil retained by thick brick walls.
EARLY a table in front for the daily offering of
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
- Steps and ramps connect with a shaft Architecture
which descended to the level of the 4th [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
tomb chamber from the North end of the - A small offering
A.D.] room was developed
top of the Mastaba. tacked or constructed within the
DynastyonMastaba
- After burial, Heavy stones (portcullises) mastaba.
are dropped through the slots to seal the - Majority of the mastabas were made of
chamber. limestone.

Mastaba at Gizeh: 4th Dynasty

5th & 6th Dynasty Mastaba
- Rooms or group of rooms including a
columned hall with walls lined with vividly-
colored reliefs depicting scenes from the
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
daily life of the deceased were adjacent
MESOPOTAMIAN or within the mastaba mound.
GREEK
Subsequent changes in the design of the mastaba
ROMAN
EARLY
is due to the attempt to achieve greater security for
CHRISTIAN the body of the dead and the goods buried with him.
 Egyptian
Parts of Mastaba (2nd – 6th Dynasty): Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
1. Stele – located in the offering room A.D.]
(outter chamber), is an upright stone slab Mastaba at
Examples of Beit Khallaf is a massive,
Mastaba
inscribed with the name of the dead. Walls plain, and solid looking “stairway” tomb
are decorated with representations of typical of the 3rd Dynasty made up of
festal scenes, and life of the dead bricks with five (5) porticullises guarding
the stairs and the ramp.
2. Serdab (Inner Secret Chamber) –
containing statues of the deceased,
and members of his family.

3. Well leads to the chamber containing the

sarcophagus with its mummy.

PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Mastaba at Gizeh adjoins the great Architecture
pyramids arranged in orderly ranks from [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
number two (2) to three-hundred (300). Mastaba of Thi, Sakkara It dates from
A.D.]
Mostly of the 4th and 5th Dynasty. the fifth dynasty, and was erected to the
Royal Architect and Manager if pyramids
Development of the offering chapel and Thi.
typical “shaft” with deep underground tomb
chamber and a sloping sided superstructure A large pillared court is attached to the
having two widely spaced recesses on the north end of the east side, approached
long east side. from the north by a portico which has a
serdab alongside. A passage connects
A false door is located in the southern the court with a small chamber and an
portion for offerings. offering room, with two pillars lying inside.
This is equipped with two stele and an
offering table against the west wall; on
the of it is a second serdab with three
south
slots through the intervening wall
corresponding to the three duplicates
statues of Thi.

The masonry of the tomb is carefully

jointed and covered with flat reliefs, which
are generally considered the best
PRE-HISTORIC specimens of their kind.
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
The principal reliefs are in a second tomb
Plan Legend:
Architecture
chamber, 22 feet 9 inches by 23 feet 9 [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
inches and 12 feet 6 inches high. These 1: Portico with twoA.D.]
pillars
reliefs represent harvest operations,
shipbuilding scenes, scenes representing 2: First serdab, visible through two narrow windows
from the portico and from the courtyard
the arts and crafts of the period, the
slaughtering of sacrificial animals, and Thi 3: Pillared courtyard;
himself sailing through the marshes in a a: false door of Demedj, Thi’s son
boat with a surrounding papyrus shrubs. 4: First corridor;
b: false door of Nefer-Hetep-es
(Neferhetepes), Thi’s wife, aligned
with her tomb shaft (no. 9)

5: Second corridor

6: Storeroom

7: The chapel for Thi;

c, d: false doors of Thi, aligned with his burial
chamber (C)

8: Second serdab, visible through three narrow

windows from the chapel

9: Tomb shaft for Nefer-Hetep-es (Neferhetepes), Thi’s

wife

PRE-HISTORIC The red outline outlines Thi’s burial chamber below the
EGYPTIAN
mastaba.
MESOPOTAMIAN
A: descent from the courtyard
GREEK
B: sloping corridor
ROMAN
EARLY
C: burial chamber with
CHRISTIAN D: Thi’s stone sarcophagus
 B. ROYAL PYRAMIDS Egyptian
Architecture
A massive funerary structure of stone or [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
brick with a square base and four sloping River where A.D.]funerary procession
triangular sides meeting at the apex. • arrives, via a man-made
Valley building canalto the
is connected
Nile
Used mainly in ancient Egypt, These
were
built by the kings as their future tombs,
the governing idea being to secure
immortality by the preservation of the
mummy.
Pyramids did not stand In solitary isolation
but were the primary part of a complex of
buildings. They were surrounded by a walled
enclosure and had the following parts:

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 the

dead and deified Pharaoh.

c. A raised and enclosed causeway leading to

the nearer, western edge of the
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN cultivation where stood a
MESOPOTAMIAN
•Pyramid entrances normally were from
GREEK d. “Valley building” in which embalmment
ROMAN
was
the North side and the other faces were
EARLY
CHRISTIAN carried out and interment rites performed. exactly oriented with the cardinal points.
 Egyptian
Pyramid Orientation Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
The tombs are aligned north-south with A.D.]
an accuracy of up to 0.05 degrees. How
the Egyptians did this has been unclear.

Experiments conducted over the past few

decades suggest that several methods that
make use of the sun or stars could also
have been used to align the pyramids to the
cardinal points – North, East, West, South

• The Fall Equinox Theory by Glen

Dash
“The fall equinox occurs halfway between
the summer and winter solstices. By Theory on Solar Reference on the
counting 91 days after the summer solstice, Pyramid’s shape and Orientation
one can land squarely on the fall equinox.
On that day, you can stick a pole in The shape of the pyramid was perhaps
ground and the watch the shadow. This type of intended as a tangible version of the rays
pole functions as a "gnomon," which is the of the sun. It is believed by the Egyptians
tall part of a sundial that casts a shadow. If that the sun’s rays are ramps the
PRE-HISTORIC
you mark the tip of the pole's shadow as it pharaoh to climb to the sky, and that
mounts
EGYPTIAN moves across the sand during the day, pyramids were actually designed as
MESOPOTAMIAN the
marks should create a line that points staircase (e.g. Zoser’s pyramid).
GREEK
ROMAN perfectly east and west.”
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Pyramid Construction
Egyptian
Architecture
• Pyramids were built with immense outlay [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
in labor and material to secure the A.D.]
preservation of the body after death until
the soul would once again return to the
body.

• Pyramids were founded on the living rock,

levelled to receive them, and were of
limestone quarried in their locality, faced
with the finer limestone coming from Tura Straight Ramps
on the opposite, eastern side of the Nile.
Granite, in limited use for the linings and
of chambers and passages was brought
from up-river of Aswan

• Wooden sledges, with or without rollers,

were used to transport the stone blocks
from the source going to the site.

• The principal tool used for raising the

stone blocks from the ground was said to
be a lever. Zigzag & Spiral Ramps
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
•Tomb chambers and
MESOPOTAMIAN
• Sloping ramps made of sand or earth with
GREEK their approaches.
reinforced brick walls were used to haul
ROMAN
Were either cut in the
EARLY up stone blocks to the top of the pyramid.
CHRISTIAN rock below the
 Egyptian
Examples of Egyptian Pyramid Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
Step Pyramid of Zoser, Sakkara (2778 BC) A.D.]
•• Surrounded by a x vast
Approx. Dim: 125m(w) rectangular
109m(w) x
• Built by Zoser’s Architect, Imhotep. 60m(h) limestone wall measuring 547m x 278m
Remarkable as the world’s first large-scale x10.70m(h)
monument made up of stone.

• Is a series of six (6) successively

smaller
mastabas one atop of another & originally
clad in polished white limestone.
• Investigations have shown that the
pyramid
began
usual as a square mastaba,
rectangular instead
shape, and thenofwas
the
changed to rectangular.

PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1 Century A.D.]
st

• Heb-Sed court contains dummy chapels

• The surrounding walls has 14 bastions with forecourts representing the various
with provinces of upper and lower Egypt.
false doors made up of stones.
• The entrance to the leads to a • The interior of the complex shows some
complex with fluted relation to earlier developments of
PRE-HISTORIC long
columns1-m-wide hallway lined
that resembles bundle of reeds; mastaba considering the fact that its varied
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN said columns bears architraves and a roof parts are composed of offering chapel with
GREEK made of stone stele and statue of Zoser, mortuary temple,
ROMAN two courts, maze corridors, and several
EARLY
CHRISTIAN rooms.
 Egyptian
Seneferu (2613–2589 BCE), ruler during the Architecture
Fourth Dynasty built several pyramids in an [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
attempt to build a “true pyramid”. A.D.]

Pyramid of Meydum

• Attributed to the last king of the third

dynasty, Huni.

• At one-stage was a seven-stepped

structure, contrived by building six thick
layers of masonry, each faced with
limestone, against a center with sides
sloping steeply at 75 degrees; later on
added another layer raising the number of
steps into eight (8).

• Latter development of a layer

adding
around the step-pyramid that transformed it
into a “true pyramid”

• Approx dimension of the “True Pyramid”:

144.5m (474ft) base x 90m (295ft)
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
height. Sides sloping @ 51 degrees.
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Bent Pyramid Architecture
(South Pyramid of Seneferu, 2723 [4000+ B.C. – 1stportion:
Century 54
• Approx inclination: Lower
BC) A.D.]
degrees; Upper portion: 43 degrees.

• The change in slope had the objective

of
lightening the weight of the upper portion
of the masonry as walls of the chambers
and passages in the lower portion began
to show signs of crumbling.
• Made up of locally sourced stone
with
limestone facing, it is square in plan with
approx. dimension of 187m (620ft) base
• Located 50 kilometers North near x 102m (335ft) height.
Dahshur • Surrounded by a double-walled
• Construction commenced when Seneferu rectangular enclosure, an offering
abandoned the building of Meydum and
Pyramid after fifteen (15) years of work. mortuary temple in the eastern portion
and a causeway leading to the Valley
• Originally planned to be 150m high and Building.
bold, it was not realized due to the • The subsidiary structures around the
PRE-HISTORIC instability of the ground. However, in an pyramid was said to have provided the
EGYPTIAN
effort to save the structure, bend was first example of how a pyramid complex
MESOPOTAMIAN
added to reduce the weight and angle of should be arranged and its parts. Thus,
GREEK
ROMAN the slope, thus called “BENT PYRAMID”. It is considered a unique example of
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
early pyramid development.
 Egyptian
Red Pyramid (North Pyramid of Seneferu) Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]
The Pyramids atChephren
Giza (2550 – 2490
(Khafra)
BC)
Cheops (Khufu)
Mykerinos
(Menkaura)

• Located 2 miles (approx. 3km) North of

the
Bent Pyramid, is the actual burial place of
King Seneferu, and ofwastheconstructed
the abandonment after
Bent Pyramid
between the 22 nd
and 29 th years of
Seneferu’s reign and took approximately 70
Inscribed into the UNESCO World
years to build.
Heritage List in 1979, it was said to have
been built to endure an eternity, the
• It is called the “Red Pyramid” because of
monumental tombs are relics of Egypt's
the reddish cast of the limestones used Old Kingdom era.
in its construction.
Three Pyramids at Giza
• It is the largest among the Pyramids in
Dahshur and the 3rd largest in the whole of
PRE-HISTORIC 1. Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu)
Egypt and also the first “True Pyramid”.
EGYPTIAN
2. Pyramid of Chephren (Khafra)
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK 3. Pyramid of Mykerinos
• Approx. dimension: 104m(h) x 220m(b),
ROMAN (Menkaura)
EARLY 43
CHRISTIAN
degrees slope.
 Egyptian
The Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu) 2600BC
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• The first and the largest among the • It is composed of approx. 2.3M
three individual
stones, weighing at an average of 2500
Pyramids at Giza, was built by Cheops, the kgs (2.5 tons), resting on a solid rock
second king of the fourth dynasty, son of foundation; The core was mostly of
Seneferu. yellow limestone quarried from the
• (Approx.) 146m (480ft) high; 230.6m immediate area, while the stones of the
PRE-HISTORIC (756ft) casing are of a white limestone from
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
base;
The 13 fouracres (52,609
sides are sqm) total area. quarries at Tura and Masara.
near-equilateral
GREEK triangles and makes an angle of
ROMAN
approximately 51 degrees 52 min with the • The oldest among the 7 wonders of
EARLY
the
CHRISTIAN ground.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1 Century A.D.]
st

There are three separate internal chamber and the so-called 'Queen's chamber'
are
discarded projects, abandoned in favor of the “king's chamber” where the granite
sarcophagus is located. The entrance is 7.30m (24ft) off center on the North side,
and
17m (56ft) above ground level, measured vertically, leading to a corridor descending at
PRE-HISTORIC about 26 degrees to the original rock-cut chamber. In this descending corridor, after the
EGYPTIAN
first change of plan, an ascending corridor was cut in the ceiling, about 18.30m (60ft)
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK along, rising to some 21m (70ft.) above ground at which level the Queen's chamber was
ROMAN constructed. But before it was entirely completed, the approach was sealed off and the
EARLY
CHRISTIAN ascending corridor extended into what is known as the Grand Gallery. At the. top, the
 Egyptian
The Pyramid of Chephren (Khafra) 2532 BC
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• Located at the North-West of the

Valley
building is the mystical
– A gigantic Great Sphinx of Chephren
monster carved
from a spur of a rock, bearing the head
of Chephren wearing a royal head-dress,
false beard and cobra brow ornament,
and has the body of a resting
lion. Measuring 73.2m (240ft) long, 20m
(66ft) high, and the face 4.1m (13ft 6in)
• The second of the three Pyramids at wide.
Giza.
Built by the son of Khufu and 4th King of • The lion was a royal symbol as well
the 4th Dynasty, Chephren. asbeing connected with the sun as a
PRE-HISTORIC
symbol of the horizon; the fusion of this
EGYPTIAN
• A little less large than the Pyramid of powerful animal with the head of the
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK Cheops with approx. dimension of: 216m pharaoh was an icon that survived and
ROMAN
(708ft) sides, 143m (470ft) high, and a was often used throughout Egyptian
EARLY
CHRISTIAN steeper slope at 52 degrees and 20 min. history.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
of an A.D.]
intricate though largely
symmetrical combination
Khafra’s mortuary temple of
galleries
consistedand courts, at the center
of which was a monumental
courtyard with twelve colossal
statues in niches along its
perimeter. Behind the courtyard
was a row of five chapels that held
the sacred barges that had brought
the sarcophagus and other objects
down the Nile

The plain square piers

support red granite
lintels. The rectilinear
perfection of the piers
contrasts with the more
organic coursing of the
PRE-HISTORIC gigantic stones of the
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN wall.
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
The Pyramid of Mykerinos
(Menkaura) 2525 BC
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• Menkaure’s pyramid chambers include

• Built by Pharaoh Menkaura - son of a
th
Chephren, and the 5 King of the 4
th
chamber carved with decorative
and another chamber with six panels
large
Dynasty.
niches. The burial chamber is lined with
massive granite blocks.
• Much smaller than the other two
PRE-HISTORIC
Pyramids
EGYPTIAN
• Within Menkaure’s mortuary and
MESOPOTAMIAN at Giza with an approx. dimension of: 109m
valley
temples, neither of which were
GREEK
(356ft) square base, 66.50m (218ft) high,
ROMAN completed before his death, excavation
EARLY and sloping sides at 51 degrees.
CHRISTIAN revealed a series of statues of the king.
 Egyptian
Site Plan of The Great Pyramids of Giza Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]
In addition to the
three major
structures, several
smaller pyramids
belonging to
are queens as
arranged
satellites. A major
cemetery of smaller
tombs, known as
mastabas fills the
area to the east and
west of the pyramid of
Khufu and were
constructed in a grid-
like pattern for
prominent members
of the court. Being
buried near the
pharaoh was a great
honor and helped
PRE-HISTORIC ensure a prized place
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
in the afterlife.
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
C. ROCK-CUT or ROCK-HEWN TOMBS Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]
Examples of Rock-Cut Tombs
Tombs at Beni Hasan

• Began during the early middle

kingdom
when provincial officials (Nomarch) of each • An example of Hillside
provinces (Nome) preferred to be buried in Tomb
their locality rather than in the capital city or • Beni Hasan - a province in Egypt, east
beside/near the Pyramid of the Pharaoh. of
Nile River,elaborately
Dynasty and is noteddecorated
for its 39 11tombs
th-12th
• Built along hill-side, naturally occurring
PRE-HISTORIC rock carved into a limestone hill.
EGYPTIAN formation, or sloping rock face.
MESOPOTAMIAN
• Primarily for the noblemen rather • Each has a chamber; A porticoed
GREEK
ROMAN than façade
EARLY
royals until the New Kingdom. with fluted or tapered columns.
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Tombs of the Kings, Thebes
Architecture
• An example of Corridor Tomb, and [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
more A.D.]
commonly known as “The Valley of the
Kings”, is located in the arid mountains on
the west side of Nile River, it is the burial site
of most Kings/Pharaohs during the 18th-20th
Dynasties.
• Created during the age of the New Kingdom,
wherein the Kings shifted to corridor type
tombs, and showed abandonment of royal
pyramid tombs

• Stairs, passage ways, and chambers extend

as much as approx. 210m (690ft) into the
mountains and approx. 96m (315ft) below
the ground.

• Chambers of these tombs are connected

with passages hewn in the rock, and were
intended only for the reception of the
sarcophagi. Said Chamber is composed of
rock-columns and elaborate wall paintings
PRE-HISTORIC depicting ceremonial funerary scenes and
EGYPTIAN religious texts
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK Valley of the Queens is a place near the
ROMAN • Mortuary Temples were built separately and Valley of the Kings where wives
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
completely detached from the tombs. of
 Egyptian
2. TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]
• Are sanctuaries where only the king
and • Light & shadow are important features
•inWall openings
priests can enter,formed
and processions and ina which mysteries
great part of the • Temples,
Gaps between columns
and light came through:
religious services. • Clerestory windows

• Are not places for meeting of the Temple as cosmos

the
faithful or the recital of common prayers,
and no public ritual was celebrated within Conceptually, temples in Egypt were
them. connected to the idea of zep tepi, or “the
first time,” the beginnings of the creation
• Are a kind of royal chapel constructed by of the world. The temple was a reflection
the king in token of his own piety and in of this time, when the mound of creation
order to purchase the favor of the gods, emerged from the primeval waters. The
because only the priests and were pylons, or gateways in the temple
king the hypostyle hall.
allowed beyond represent the horizon, and as one moves
further into the temple, the floor rises
• Typically consisted of chambers for until it reaches the sanctuary of the god,
the giving the impression of a rising mound,
priests, with courts, colonnades, and halls, like that during creation. The temple roof
all surrounded by a high wall. represented the sky and was often
PRE-HISTORIC
• Designs emphasized order, symmetry, decorated with stars and birds. The
EGYPTIAN and columns were designed with lotus,
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
monumentality, and combined papyrus, and palm plants in order to
ROMAN geometric shapes with stylized organic reflect the marsh-like environment of
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
motifs. creation.
 Types of Temples:
Egyptian
1. Mortuary temple Architecture
• Used for the ministrations (service) to deified
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
pharaohs, and is a developed version of the
offering chapels of the mastabas and royal A.D.]
pyramids. 7.Obelisk is a tall 4-sided narrow tapering upright
stone terminating in a pyramidion, its most sacred
• Detached from tombs especially during the new part. A symbol of the sun-god Heliopolis, it usually
kingdom where corridor tombs are customary, come in pairs fronting entrances of the temples. Its
hence, features of this type of temple tended to height
8.Avenueis 9-10 times the diameter
of sphinxes of the base,
rows of monsters and
with a
merge into that of the other type (Cult Temple) its four
body ofsides feature
lion, head of hieroglyphics.
man, hawk, or ram leading to
and distinction between them eventually lost. monuments

2. Cult Temple
• Began in the, and for the worship of the t&
ancien mysterious gods of Egyptians.

Parts of an Egyptian Temple:

1. Pylon is the monumental gateway to the temple.

2. Great Court is surrounded by columns

3.Hypostyle Hall is a forest of columns, portraying

the illusion of infinity & vastness of space. “Hall within
many columns”.

4.Sanctuary is the holiest part & accessible only to

PRE-HISTORIC
the kings & high priests that contains statues of their
EGYPTIAN deities or pharaoh.
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK 5.Enclosure wall
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN 6.Colossal statues of the Pharaoh
 Egyptian
Examples of Parts of an Egyptian Temple Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

Pylon Hypostyle Hall

PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
Great Court Sanctuary
 Egyptian
Examples of Parts of an Egyptian Temple Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

Enclosure Wall

Obelisk

PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN Colossal Statues of the Pharaoh Avenue of Sphinxes
 Egyptian
Examples of Egyptian Temples Architecture
Temple of Khons, Karnak (1198 [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
BC) A.D.]
• Mostly done by Rameses III, is a usual type
of Cult Temple characterized by having
Entrance Pylons, Court, Hypostyle Hall,
Sanctuary, and Several Chapels, all enclosed
by a high stone wall.

• The Entrance to the temple was between

pylons, fronted by obelisks, and were
approached by avenue of sphinxes. The
entrance gave access to the open court
(hypaethral: Greek “under the air”),
surrounded on three sides by a double
colonnade and leading to the hypostyle hall,
to which light was admitted by a clerestory
window, formed by the increased height of
the columns of the central aisle. Beyond was
the sanctuary, with openings front and rear
and a circulating passage around, and
beyond this again was a four-columned hall.
The smaller rooms flanking the sanctuary
and at its rear were mostly chapels or
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
served for purposes of the ritual. The
MESOPOTAMIAN Temple was protected by a great wall of the
GREEK same height as the halls themselves, and
ROMAN
EARLY
like them the wall decreased in height
CHRISTIAN towards the sanctuary end.
 Egyptian
Temple of Mentuhetep, Der el-Bahari, Architecture
Thebes (2065 BC) [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
• Located at the West Bank of Luxor (ancient A.D.]
Thebes), in Deir el-Bahari, is a terraced-two-
main-level mortuary temple at the base of the
steep cliffs, from the 11th Dynasty, built by
the Pharaoh Mentuhotep II. It represents the
architectural change from the pyramids of the
Old Kingdom to the tombs and temples of
million years from the New Kingdom.

• The pyramid-shaped structure at the top is a

cenotaph - a tomb or a monument erected in
honor of a person or group of persons whose
remains are elsewhere - and the rock below it
is a dummy burial chamber approached by
an irregular passage from the forecourt.

• It is a mortuary temple directly related to a

corridor tomb. In the rear of the temple is
another pillared hall, recessed into the rock
face, preceded by an open court from the
center of which ramp leads down to
PRE-HISTORIC Mentuhetep’s 152.5m (approx. 500ft) long
EGYPTIAN corridor tomb.
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN • This Temple had a causeway leading down
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
to
 Egyptian
Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Der el- Architecture
Bahari, Thebes (1520 BC) [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
and reign and
A.D.]surpass any other in
elegance and grandeur.
It was designed to tell the story of her
life
The Temple of Hatshepsut has three
levels. Leading up to the temple is a 100-
foot processional causeway that in ancient
Egyptian times was lined with sphinxes
that connected the temple with the valley.
“The Egyptian Queen, who ruled as King”,
The eldest daughter of King Thutmose I, Known as Djeser Djeseru, or “holy of
Hatshepsut assumed the role of a queen in holies,” Hatshepsut’s temple was
the 18th dynasty after her husband, decorated with scenes from her reign and
Thutmose II, died. She ruled for more than housed shrines to Anubis, god of the
two decades. dead; Hathor, goddess of fertility; Amun,
king of gods; and Ra, god of the sun.
Took 15 years to complete, and built next
to
Mentuhetep’s Temple to reinforce her place
among kings, Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple
located on the west bank of the Nile River in
Deir El Bahri is her greatest achievement.
PRE-HISTORIC Designed by Hatshepsut’s Architect,
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
Senmut, it was carefully modeled on that of
GREEK Mentuhotep II but took every aspect of the
ROMAN
EARLY
earlier building and made it larger,
CHRISTIAN longer, and more elaborate.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
temple all A.D.]
featured colonnade and
• elaborate reliefs, and
The first, second, paintings, statuary,
third levels of
and
the exemplified the traditional Egyptian
value of symmetry.

• Walking through the first courtyard

(ground level), one could go directly
through the archways on either side or
stroll up the central ramp, whose
entrance pylon was flanked by statues
of lions and towering obelisks.

• A colonnade existed with square

pillars
that were home to many intricate and
exquisite reliefs. Many of these reliefs
depicted Hatshepsut on her many trips
to Punt (Northern Somalia), but were all
destroyed after her death.

PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]
• On the second level, there were two reflecting
pools and sphinxes lining the pathway to
another ramp which brought a person up to
• The second courtyard would house the tomb
the third level.
of Senmut to the right of the ramp leading up
to the third level.

• On the left side of the ramp leading to the

third level was the Birth Colonnade, and on
the right the Punt Colonnade.

• The Birth Colonnade told the story of

Hatshepsut’s divine creation with Amun Ra as
her true father to validate her rule over Egypt
even after her reign.

• The Punt Colonnade related her glorious

expedition to the mysterious 'land of the gods'
which the Egyptians had not visited in
centuries. Hatshepsut described how her
people set out on the trip, their warm
reception in Punt, and makes a detailed list of
PRE-HISTORIC
the many luxury goods brought back to Egypt.
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN • At either end of the second level colonnade
GREEK
ROMAN
were two temples: The Temple of Anubis to
EARLY the north and The Temple of Hathor to the
CHRISTIAN
south.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]
• Statues of Horus, in falcon form,
flank the ramp that leads from the
• second
The ramp to theto third
courtyard level,
the third level.
centered
perfectly between the Birth and Punt
colonnades, brought a person up to
another colonnade, lined with statues,
and the
the threeCult
Royal most Chapel,
significantSolar
structures:
Cult
Chapel, and the Sanctuary of Amun.

• The whole temple complex was built into

the cliffs of Deir el-Bahari and the
Sanctuary of Amun – the most sacred
area of the site – was cut from the cliff
itself.

• The Royal Cult Chapel and Solar

Cult
Chapel both depicted
family making scenes
offerings to ofthe
thegods.
royal
Amun-Ra, the composite creator/sun
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN god, is featured prominently in the Solar
MESOPOTAMIAN Cult Chapel with Hatshepsut and her
GREEK
ROMAN
immediate family kneeling before him in
EARLY honor.
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Great Temple of Ammun, Karnak, Thebes Architecture
(1530 – 323 BC) [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
• The grandest of all Egyptian temples & A.D.]
built by many kings, It was the most A great court, 103m x 84m (338ft x 275ft)
important sanctuary of the cult who deep, gives entrance to the vast
worshipped the sun god, Amun-Ra. It hypostyle hall, by Seti I and Rameses II,
occupies a site of The roof
some 103mof xenormous
52m (338ftslabs of stone
x 170ft) of
on the
366m x 110m (1200ft x 360ft) and is placed the
inside.
in an immense enclosure along with other hypostyle hall (Hall within many
temples and a sacred lake, surrounded by columns) is supported by 134 columns
a girdle wall 6.1m x 9m (20ft to 30 ft) thick. in sixteen rows; The central avenues are
• The temple had six pairs of pylons, added about 24m (78ft) in height and have
by successive rulers, and consists of columns 21m (69ft) high and 3.6m (11ft
various courts, and halls leading to the 9in) in diameter, with capitals of the
sanctuary, and a large ceremonial hall by papyrus-flower or bell type. In order to
Thothmes III in the admit light through the clerestory, the side
rear. avenues are lower with columns 13m (42ft
6in) high and 2.7m (8ft
9in) in diameter with papyrus bud capitals.

PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
ROMAN
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• The First Pylon, is 113 meters wide with walls

15 meters thick and still stands 43.5 meters
high. It was left unfinished, and fragments of
the scaffolding of sun-dried brick used during
its construction are still visible.

• Beyond the Pylon, you come to the Great

Court, which dates from the 22nd Dynasty. It is
103 meters wide by 84 meters deep with
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
colonnades on both sides. In the north corner
MESOPOTAMI of the court is the small Temple of Seti II, which
AN consists of three chapels dedicated Mut,
GREEK
ROMAN
Amun, and Khons, each with niches for the
EARLY image of the deity.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• On the right-hand side of the court is the

Temples of Ramses III, dedicated to Amun,
which is perhaps the best example of a simple
Egyptian temple built on a unified plan.

• Beyond the temple's Pylon is a Court, with

covered passages on either side, the roofs of
which are supported on eight Osiris pillars. On
the rear walls of the Pylon towers, Ramses is
shown receiving the sign for "jubilee" from
Amun, signifying that he would celebrate many
more jubilees. On the far side of the court is the
Vestibule of the temple proper, which stands on
a higher level. Along the front are four Osiris
pillars, while to the rear are four columns with
closed capitals.
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN • From the Vestibule, a doorway leads into
MESOPOTAMI the Hypostyle Hall, which has eight columns
AN
GREEK with closed capitals. Beyond this are three
ROMAN chapels dedicated respectively from left to right
EARLY to Mut, Amun, and Khons.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• The Second Pylon, built by Ramses II, is badly

dilapidated. The towers have been freed from
the ruins of later buildings erected in front of
them using stone. In the center is the huge
doorway, formerly preceded by a kind of small
vestibule flanked by two statues of Ramses II:
one of these (on the right) still stands, of the
other, only the legs are left.

PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMI
AN
GREEK
Beyond the 2nd Pylon is the Great Hypostyle
ROMAN Hall, justifiably regarded as one of the wonders
EARLY of the world.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• The rear wall of the Great Hypostyle Hall is

formed by the Third Pylon, built by Amenophis
III. Incorporated in its structure were large
blocks decorated with reliefs from 13 earlier
temples. On the south tower is a long
inscription detailing the gifts made by the
pharaoh to Amun. On the north tower are the
last remnants of a relief depicting a ceremonial
voyage on the Nile.

PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN • Beyond the Third Pylon is the Central Court
MESOPOTAMI
AN
where formerly four obelisks are erected. One
GREEK of these is still standing, together with the
ROMAN bases of the other three. It is 21.75 meters high
EARLY and is estimated to weigh 143 tons.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• The Fourth Pylon, was built by Thothmes I. The

doorway, according to the relief inscription, was
restored by Alexander the Great. Beyond the
pylon is a colonnade, also ruined, which
originally contained huge statues of Osiris set
in niches and two obelisks of Aswan granite
erected by Queen Hatshepsut, the tips of which
were covered with electrum (an alloy of silver
and gold)
• Beyond the Fifth Pylon built by Thothmes I, are
two small antechambers, now in a state of ruin,
built by Thothmes III in front of the Sixth Pylon.
To the right and left are courts with colonnades
of 16-sided columns and statues of Osiris —
remnants of the large court built by Thothmes I
around the temple of the Middle Kingdom.
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
• The Sixth Pylon built by Thothmes III, the last
MESOPOTAMI and smallest of all, is also in a ruined state. On
AN the walls to the right and left of the granite
GREEK
central doorway are lists of the cities and tribes
ROMAN
EARLY subdued by Thothmes III.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• The Sixth Pylon leads you into the First Hall of

Records, built by Thothmes III in a court. Here,
stand two granite pillars, which once supported
the roof — the one on the right (south) with the
lotus; the one on the left with the papyrus, the
emblems of Upper and Lower Egypt. Here, too,
are the magnificent colossal statues of Amun
(much restored) and the goddess Amaunet, of
reddish sandstone.

• To the left and right of the Hall of Records is the

Court constructed by Tuthmosis III, with a
colonnade of papyrus cluster columns with 16
shafts. On the rear side of the doorway leading
to the southern part of the court are reliefs of
PRE-HISTORIC
Seti II. In the east wall, on the facade of
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMI
Hatshepsut's building, is a false door, once
AN lavishly adorned with gold and lapis lazuli. On
GREEK
the south side are five chapels dedicated to the
ROMAN
EARLY
cult of Amenophis I.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• The Second Hall of Records of Thothmes III,

which surrounds the chapel, are long
inscriptions celebrating the pharaoh's military
exploits. To the right of the black granite
doorway, above the inscription, is a relief of
Thothmes III presenting gifts (two obelisks,
vases, necklaces, and chests) to the temple.

• The Great Festival Temple of Thothmes III is

entered by the main doorway at the southwest
corner, in front of which are the stumps of two 16-
PRE-HISTORIC sided columns and two statues of the pharaoh as
EGYPTIAN Osiris. The roof of the three central aisles was
MESOPOTAMI borne on two rows of 10 columns and 32 square
AN
GREEK pillars. The tent pole columns are unique,
ROMAN indicating that the central aisles were conceived
EARLY by the builder as a large festival tent.
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

• Incised inscriptions and reliefs in

colour,
which cover the walls, column shafts, and
architraves, give the names and exploits of
the royal personages who contributed to its
grandeur, and praise the gods to whom it
was dedicated.
• The inscriptions in the walls, columns,
and
ceilings serve as “super-dimensional
PRE-HISTORIC history books”: the scenes painted on them
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
refer to the religious practices and great
GREEK achievements of the king. At the bottom
ROMAN
EARLY
they are decorated with images of papyrus
CHRISTIAN and at the top with offering scenes.
 Egyptian
Temple at Luxor, Thebes (1408-1300BC) Architecture
• Ramses II [4000+
added B.C.
an – 1outer court,
st Century
• Dedicated to Amon, king of the gods,
decorated with
A.D.] colossal statues of
his
consort Mut, and their son Khons, it was
himself between the pillars of a double
commissioned by King Amenophis
colonnade, and a lofty pylon on which he
III (reigned 1390–53 BCE) of the late
depicted festival scenes and episodes
18th dynasty, the temple was built close to
from his wars in Syria. In front of
the Nile River and parallel with the bank
the
pylon were colossal statues of
and is known today as the Temple of Luxor.
the pharaoh and a pair of obelisks, one
of which still stands; the other was
• The original part of the Temple of
removed in 1831 and re-erected in
Luxor consisted of a large peristyle court
the Place de la Concorde in Paris.
and a complex of halls and chambers.

• The great peristyle forecourt is

surrounded
on three sides by a double row of graceful
papyrus-cluster columns,
their capitals imitating the cluster of
the papyrus plant in bud.

• The most striking feature of the temple,

a
majestic
metres) colonnade
high. Said of 14 pillars, which
colonnade, 52 feetalso
(16
PRE-HISTORIC
has papyrus-cluster capitals, may have
EGYPTIAN been intended for the central nave of a
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
hypostyle hall similar to that at Karnak, but
ROMAN the side aisles were not built; instead,
EARLY
CHRISTIAN enclosing walls were built down either side
 Egyptian
Temple of Seti I, Abydos Architecture
(1312BC) [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
• On the first courtyard's southeast
A.D.]
wall
are scenes
victories in from
Asia,Ramses
includingII'sthe
wars and
famed
Battle of Qadesh.

• Built by Seti I, and was completed by

Rameses
II, it has three (3) levels, two pylons, two
forecourts, and two hypostyle halls; and is
unique in having seven sanctuaries side by
side honoring Osiris, Isis, Horus, Ptah, Re-
Harakhte, Amun, and diefied Pharaoh Seti I.
• The front part of the temple is divided Second Courtyard
into To the right and left, you can see
seven
doorway,individual
and thetemples, each with
chambers behindits own
the dedicatory inscriptions in the name of
chapels are not arranged behind one another, Ramses II. On the far of the court, a
like the other temples, but side by side. side low ramp leads up temple proper
to the
and a Vestibule with 12 sturdy pillars.
• Another unusual feature of the temple is a
wing
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
of chambers projecting at right angles to the
MESOPOTAMIAN main structure, following the shape of the
GREEK eminence on which the temple stands.
ROMAN
EARLY • The reliefs on the walls of close-
CHRISTIAN grained
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

First Hypostyle Hall

• Its partly destroyed roof of which is supported on
24 papyrus cluster columns with bud capitals. Sanctuaries
Columns are so arranged that the five central • Adjoining the Second Hypostyle Hall are seven
processional aisles leading to the chapels are sanctuaries. The one in the middle is dedicated
flanked by two pairs of columns, while the two to Amun, the principal god of the New Kingdom;
outermost aisles are bounded on one side by the the three on the right to Osiris, Isis, and Horus;
walls of the hall. and the three on the left to Re-Harakhty, Ptah,
and to Pharaoh Seti I.

The Second Hypostyle Hall

• Has 36 columns set in three rows supporting the The South Wing
PRE-HISTORIC
architraves and the roofing slabs, which rest on • Contains a slaughter yard, a well, and store
EGYPTIAN them. The 24 columns in the first two rows have rooms, as well as a Sanctuary of Ptah-Sokar,
MESOPOTAMIAN closed papyrus capitals. The columns in the third the death god of Memphis, which is entered
GREEK row, set on a raised platform, are tree trunk from the Second Hypostyle Hall. The fine reliefs
ROMAN
EARLY
columns with cylindrical shafts and no capitals that here show Seti I revering Ptah-Sokar, his son
CHRISTIAN support the architrave. Nefertum, and other deities.
 Egyptian
Great Temple, Abu-Simbel (1301BC) Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
• Eight smaller chambers open off
A.D.]
assymetrically to right and left probably
used to store the temple utensils and
furniture, adjoin this vestibule.

• In the rear is a small hypostyle hall,

36feet by 25 feet, having four pillars,
leading to a long narrow chamber out of
which are three apartments, the center
and largest one being the sanctuary, with
an altar and four seated figures of the
• Built by Rameses II, is considered as one of deities worshipped.
the most tremendous creations of Egyptian
architecture, and was entirely excavated out • The entire temple was transplanted
of the solid rock. from
its original location and lifted piece by
piece to its current site by an
• It has a fore-court, at the back of which is the international UNESCO team working
imposing facade, 36m (119ft) wide and 32m against the clock to preserve it from
(105ft) high, formed as a pylon, and having being flooded by the Aswan High Dam in
four seated colossi of Rameses II, each over the 1960s.
20m (65ft) in height is believed to be
PRE-HISTORIC Rameses II’s attempt to achieve immortality. • Abu Simbel is both the perfect
EGYPTIAN example
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK • The entrance leads to a hall, the ceiling of of the ambition of this pharaoh's reign
ROMAN which is supported by eight Osiris pillars, the and also a model illustration for modern
EARLY
CHRISTIAN walls having vividly colored reliefs. engineering
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

The entire Forecourt in front of the temple is

open, originally it would have been enclosed To the right and left of each statue and
on the north and south by brick walls, while between their legs are figures on a
the east side of the court would have been smaller scale but still larger-than-life size,
open, looking on to the Nile. representing members of the royal
family.

The 17.7-meter-long Hypostyle Hall

PRE-HISTORIC The 4 colossal figures represent a deified is
EGYPTIAN
Ramses II. The two on the left depict the divided into three aisles by two rows
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
pharaoh as Heka-tawi and Re-en-hekaw. of four square pillars, and on the inner
ROMAN The two to the right of the doorway show sides are ten-meter-high Osiris figures of
EARLY
CHRISTIAN Ramses II as Meri-Amun and Meri-Atum. the pharaoh holding the scourge and
 Egyptian
Beyond the Hypostyle Hall, you come to the Architecture
Vestibule, which is divided into three aisles [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
by four square pillars. On the sides of the A.D.]
pillars are representations of Ramses II being
received into the company of the gods.

From the Transverse Chamber, three

doors lead into three small rooms at the
farthest end of the temple. In the center is
the rectangular Sanctuary, which could be
entered only by the king

From the Vestibule, three doorways lead

into
a long and narrow Transverse Chamber On
PRE-HISTORIC
the walls of this chamber, Ramses II is
EGYPTIAN shown making offerings to Min, Horus, and
MESOPOTAMIAN
GREEK
Khnum (left-hand end) and to Atum, Thoth, Small Temple, Abu-Simbel, was
ROMAN and Ptah (right-hand end) who were also dedicated to Rameses II’s deified queen,
EARLY
CHRISTIAN
worshiped here, almost with the status of Nefertari & the goddess Hathor.
 Egyptian
Temple of Isis, Island of Philae (1301BC) Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

First Pylon: The Temple Entranceway

The First Pylon leads into the main
temple area. Its two towers and central
doorway a grand 18-meter-high entry that is
provide
• The temple is an interesting example of decorated with reliefs.
the Ptolemaic period, and was the work of
several generations. It was dedicated to
goddess Isis, wife of Osiris & mother of
Horus.

• The temples were transferred block by

block
from their
Agilika original
Island place
by the on Philae
UNESCO Island
due to
to the
construction of Aswan High Dam. Forecourt: The Temple's Main
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
Courtyard
MESOPOTAMIAN • Batter walls were employed in the temple’s A doorway with reliefs in the western
GREEK walls. tower leads directly to the Birth House
ROMAN
EARLY
(mammisi) - a small colonnaded temple
CHRISTIAN dedicated to Hathor-Isis and to the
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

The Sanctuary: House of Isis

Second Pylon: Entry to the Inner Temple Lit by two small windows. This can be reached
The Second Pylon provides a fittingly after passing through several antechambers
regal entry to the inner sanctum of the flanked by dark side chambers.
temple with a magnificent doorway 32
meters wide and 12 meters high

Gateway of Hadrian
It was built in the reign of the Emperor Hadrian
and decorated with reliefs by Hadrian, Marcus
Aurelius, and Lucius Verus. The gateway
PRE-HISTORIC
Vestibule: Entering the Inner Temple
EGYPTIAN presumably led to the Sanctuary of Abaton on
The eight-columned Vestibule is the
MESOPOTAMIAN the neighboring island of Bigga, where there was
GREEK first room of the inner temple area
a Tomb of Osiris, and accordingly, the reliefs
ROMAN and was originally separated from
EARLY relate to the cult of Osiris.
CHRISTIAN the court by screens between the
 Egyptian
Temple of Horus, Edfu (237-57BC) Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

Pylon: The Grand Temple Entrance

• The grand pylons are approx. 62.6m (205ft)
wide and 30.5m (100ft) high. Stone sentinels of
the falcon-headed god Horus watch over this
Great Pylon, while stone reliefs on either side
of the gate sing the praises of Ptolemy King
Neos Dionysos.
Plainly a processional cult temple, it is a
fine, best preserved example of Ptolemic
Period. It was built in three stages with
intervals between: First Temple Proper by
Ptolemy III, Outer Hypostyle Hall (140-
124BC), and lastly the perimeter wall and
the pylons.
Forecourt: The Colossal Courtyard
There is a passage surrounding the
• Surrounded on three sides by 32 towering
sanctuary that also serves as access to 13 columns, it would originally have had a great
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN small chapels. All its inner rooms were altar in the center, where the temple priests
MESOPOTAMIAN completely dark and windowless. made offerings to Edfu's gods . Said columns
GREEK
are richly decorated with floral and palm
ROMAN
EARLY
capitals, and the golden-hued stone walls are
CHRISTIAN covered in reliefs of the gods Horus and Hathor
 Egyptian
Architecture
[4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]

Vestibule: Entering the Inner Temple

From the forecourt, one will arrive to
First and Second Antechambers: Inner Altars of
the much more human-scale the Priests
Vestibule decorated with 12 The First
columns topped with elaborate floral Antecham
capitals. Inside are two small rooms: ber was
The western room is the Hall of an altar
Consecration, with a beautiful relief area offerings to the gods before entering the
make
on its rear wall depicting gods holy
where of holies itself in the Sanctuary.
Horus and Thoth pouring sacred offerings
water over the pharaoh; and the
Notable are the were left
eastern room was the temple's foliated palm capitals for the
Library. varying in design in gods by
Main
paris.Hypostyle Hall the temple
priests;
the
Second
Antecham
PRE-HISTORIC
EGYPTIAN
ber with a
MESOPOTAMIAN
Sanctuary:
small court The Room of the Gods
GREEK Lit
of by three small square apertures in the roof,
ROMAN offerings
the is
sanctuary was where the golden statue of
EARLY
CHRISTIAN Horus
the once stood upon a granite shrine
priests'
 Egyptian
Temple of Hathor, Dendera (110BC- Architecture
68AD) [4000+ B.C. – 1st Century
A.D.]
• Hathor’s cult center was at Dendera, one of
the best-preserved temple complexes in all of
Egypt. The Temple of Hathor is the largest
and most impressive building in this religious
complex, and is visually stunning with its grand
entrance, detailed carvings, hieroglyphs, and
• decorated
It has no ceilings.
pylons, fore-court, or enclosing outer
walls, but has a great vestibule with twenty-four
columns, six of which form the fa9ade, having
low screen walls between them on either side of
the central entrance. Behind this is the hypostyle
• Hathor is the goddess of love, who hall, having six columns with elaborate Hathor-
personified the principles of joy, feminine headed capitals. On each side of this hall and
love, and motherhood. She was also beyond are chambers, used as lavatory,
regarded as a goddess of healing, and this treasury, store-rooms; and behind are two ante-
is evident in the presence of a sanatorium chambers with a sanctuary beyond.
in
the temple complex. Here, pilgrims would • The Temple of Hathor was largely constructed
during the Late Ptolemaic period, specifically
come to be cured by the goddess. Sacred during the reign of Ptolemy XII and Cleopatra
water (which was made holy by having it VII. Later additions were made during the
poured onto statues inscribed with sacred Roman period. Although built by a dynasty of
texts) was used for bathing, unguents were rulers who were not native Egyptians
PRE-HISTORIC dispensed by the priests of Hathor, and themselves, the design of this temple has been
EGYPTIAN
MESOPOTAMIAN
sleeping quarters
hoping that were provided
the goddess would appear in found
for those to be in accordance to that of other
classical Egyptian temples, with the exception of
GREEK their dreams, and to aid them. the front of the hypostyle hall, which, according
ROMAN to an inscription above the entrance, was
EARLY
CHRISTIAN constructed by the Emperor Tiberius.