Introduction

           When one ponders the architecture of the ancient Egyptians, the mind conjurers up the image of the mighty pyramids at Giza.  In reality, most Egyptian architecture is not like the pyramids. The majority of Egyptian architecture is made up of ornate temples, palaces and tombs. 

          Most Egyptian buildings were made of mud brick or stone, because of the lack of wood.  Since stone was used mainly for tombs, the common Egyptian made his or her house out of mud brick.  We know very little about these buildings, because most were built near the Nile and swept away during the time of the inundation (flood). 

The Mastaba & the Pyramid

            The first real advancement of the architecture of the Egyptians was the mastaba.  The mastaba was the first burial structure.  Before, ancient Egyptians would bury a body in the sand or under a pile of stones.  The development of the mastaba probably came from the desire to control the life after death more, which was an enduring trait of the Egyptian culture.  The mastaba consists of a rectangular base with sloping trapezoidal sides with a smaller rectangular top. 

The next advancement in burial structures was the step pyramid.  The first Egyptian step pyramid was that of Zoser, which was designed as six Mastabas stacked on top of each other.  The pyramid of Zoser was built in the 27^th century B.C.E.   After that, the pyramid went through many transformations until the smooth sided pyramid was perfected.  

Pyramids

Hatshepsut’s Tomb

         A wonderful example of a non – pyramid style Egyptian tomb design is Hatshepsut’s tomb.  It was carved out of cliffs near the Valley of the Kings, in Deir el Bahri.  It consists of a three-tiered structure with three corresponding colonnades. A colonnade is a long strip of walkway that consists of a row of columns. One can see them clearly on Hatshepsut’s tomb.  These colonnades use the post and lintel design.  Post and lintel is a building technique that the Egyptians perfected and used widely.  The post and lintel method consists of at least two vertical columns and one horizontal crossbar at the top.  This method allowed the Egyptians to build monumental structures because it is so strong. 

Egyptian Architectural Style

            The Egyptians used many different kinds of architectural style elements as well.  One of the most prolific throughout all Egyptian architecture is the pylon.  A pylon is a type of gate, or entranceway, but on a monumental scale.  Pylons can be seen today at the temple of Luxor, the temple of Isis, the temple of Edfu and many other places.  Another Architectural add – on was the obelisk.  An obelisk is a tall, thin, four-sided spike of stone.  Most obelisks had inscriptions on the sides, mainly containing praise for the pharaoh who commissioned it.  Many of the obelisks of ancient Egypt were taken and moved, like Cleopatra’s Needle (which was moved to London) and another in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican city.  A great example of an obelisk is the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.  Even though it was built on a much larger scale than the Egyptian obelisks, it is still an obelisk. 

            Another part of Egyptian architecture was the column.  The Egyptians had two different styles of column, open papyrus and closed papyrus.  The open papyrus column has a flared top, like the papyrus reed in bloom.  Closed papyrus columns have a bulged top like the papyrus reed with a bud.  Both styles of columns were used heavily in Egyptian buildings. 

Temples

           Two of the greatest examples of Egyptian architecture are the Temple of Luxor and the Temple complex of Karnak.  The temple of Luxor (Thebes in ancient times) is truly an awe – inspiring sight.  The entrance consists of a gigantic obelisk and the massive first pylon.  Inside the temple, one will see many more pylons (smaller than the first), columns of design and giant sculptures and friezes of pharaohs and royalty. Interestingly, one will see a mosque built on top of the structure that was built when the Arabs conquered the area in 639 C.E. 

            The Temple complex of Karnak is another amazing sight.  It has the same components of the Temple of Luxor, but multiplied in the number of instances.  30 successive pharaohs added on to the complex, each adding more to the temples within.  The four main parts are the Precinct of Amon – Re, the Precinct of Montu, the Precinct of Mut and the Temple of Amenhotep IV.  An avenue of ram headed sphinxes connects Karnak to the nearby Temple of Luxor, which is located outside the enclosing wall.  Karnak and Luxor reflect the time when Egyptian temple building was at its best. 

Conclusion

            Egyptian architecture is stunning.  Whether it’s the mighty pyramids at Giza, or the intricate temples of Luxor and Karnak, one will be amazed at the accomplishments of the ancient Egyptians.  They built these structures without the aid of modern day machinery, and that only adds to their splendor. The Egyptians will always be admired for their advanced culture, and their enduring buildings are a reminder of their uniquness.

 

Bibliography ---

Manley, Suzie (2005), Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple, Retrieved February 1, 2006, from http://www.suziemanley.com/july/delb.html.

University of Memphis, The (1995), Karnak Temple, Retrieved February 2, 2006, from http://academic.memphis.edu/egypt/karnaktm.htm.

Retrieved February 1-2, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/.