Egypt

By t145139
  • Period: 6000 BCE to 3100 BCE

    Pre-Dynastic Period

    Includes: human/animal figures, narrative scenes (hunting, ritual), hieroglyphic symbols, carved stone and pottery decoration.
    Small communities forming along the Nile. Increasing social hierarchy and ritual practices leading toward unification.
  • Pre-Dynastic Egypt, Unknown, The Bull Palette, 3100 BCE, Greywacke, 25 cm high, Musée du Louvre, Paris
    3100 BCE

    Pre-Dynastic Egypt, Unknown, The Bull Palette, 3100 BCE, Greywacke, 25 cm high, Musée du Louvre, Paris

    The Bull Palette shows early Egyptian symbolism and hierarchical imagery. The powerful bull stomping over an enemy foreshadows later big imagery of rulers as dominant figures. It marks the transition toward political unification.
  • Period: 3100 BCE to 2686 BCE

    Early Dynastic Period

    Includes: Emergence of hieroglyphs, hierarchical scale
    composite view (profile body, frontal eye), political imagery. This period begins with the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under a single ruler. Art becomes a tool for authority and kingship
  • Early Dynastic Egypt, Unknown, Palette of Narmer, 3000–2920 BCE, Greywacke, 64 cm high, Egyptian Museum, Cairo
    2950 BCE

    Early Dynastic Egypt, Unknown, Palette of Narmer, 3000–2920 BCE, Greywacke, 64 cm high, Egyptian Museum, Cairo

    The Palette of Narmer shows the unification of Egypt under King Narmer. It makes major Egyptian artistic manners such as composite view. This art serves as both political propaganda and a religious symbol of kingship
  • Period: 2686 BCE to 2181 BCE

    Old Kingdom

    Includes: Pyramids, Pharaoh imagerym Strict frontal and rigid poses, Emphasis on afterlife. It is also known as the “Age of the Pyramids,” this period reflects strong centralized rule and belief in the divine power of the pharaoh. Art was heavily focused on the afterlife.
  • Old Kingdom Egypt, Imhotep (architect), Stepped Pyramid of Djoser, 2667–2648 BCE, Limestone, Saqqara, Egypt
    2650 BCE

    Old Kingdom Egypt, Imhotep (architect), Stepped Pyramid of Djoser, 2667–2648 BCE, Limestone, Saqqara, Egypt

    The Stepped Pyramid was the first large-scale stone monument in history. Designed as a complex, it reflects the Old Kingdom focus on the afterlife and the pharaoh’s divine status.
  • Old Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu), 2580–2560 BCE, Limestone, Giza, Egypt
    2570 BCE

    Old Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Great Pyramid of Giza (Khufu), 2580–2560 BCE, Limestone, Giza, Egypt

    The Great Pyramid demonstrates very high level engineering and centralized power. Built as a tomb for Pharaoh Khufu, it symbolizes eternal life and the divine nature of kingship.
  • Old Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Statue of Khafre Enthroned, 2520–2494 BCE, Diorite, 5’6” high, Egyptian Museum, Cairo
    2500 BCE

    Old Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Statue of Khafre Enthroned, 2520–2494 BCE, Diorite, 5’6” high, Egyptian Museum, Cairo

    The rigid pose and polished stone communicate divine authority and eternal stability. The falcon god Horus protects the king, reinforcing his sacred power.
  • Period: 2050 BCE to 1710 BCE

    Middle Kingdom

    Includes: More realistic portraiture, Emphasis on introspection, Continued funerary art, Increased literary refinement. After political instability, Egypt had to unify again and so the art reflects a more humanized view of rulers and renewed interest in stability and order.
  • Middle Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Tomb of Khnumhotep II , 1900 BCE, Wall painting, Beni Hasan, Egypt
    1900 BCE

    Middle Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Tomb of Khnumhotep II , 1900 BCE, Wall painting, Beni Hasan, Egypt

    These paintings show scenes of daily life, agriculture, and trade. They reflect growing interest in realism and social documentation.
  • Middle Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Pectoral of Senusret II, 1887–1878 BCE, Gold and semi-precious stones, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
    1880 BCE

    Middle Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Pectoral of Senusret II, 1887–1878 BCE, Gold and semi-precious stones, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

    This jewelry piece reflects Middle Kingdom craftsmanship and symbolism. The way they use precious materials shows royal wealth and religious protection in the afterlife.
  • Middle Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Seated Statue of Senusret III, 1878–1839 BCE, Granite, British Museum, London
    1860 BCE

    Middle Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Seated Statue of Senusret III, 1878–1839 BCE, Granite, British Museum, London

    This sculpture reflects Middle Kingdom realism through its facial expression and detailed features. It presents the king as a responsible, burdened ruler rather than an eternally youthful god.
  • Period: 1550 BCE to 1070 BCE

    New Kingdom

    Includes: Imperial expansion, Monumental temples, Tomb decoration. Egypt became a powerful empire. Art became more elaborate and expressive, especially during the Amarna period, which for a little shifted toward naturalism.
  • New Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Temple of Hatshepsut, 1473–1458 BCE, Limestone, Deir el-Bahri, Egypt
    1470 BCE

    New Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Temple of Hatshepsut, 1473–1458 BCE, Limestone, Deir el-Bahri, Egypt

    This temple demonstrates New Kingdom monumentality and architectural peace with the landscape. It reinforces Hatshepsut’s real position as a female pharaoh.
  • New Kingdom Egypt, Thutmose (attributed), Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Painted limestone, Neues Museum, Berlin
    1345 BCE

    New Kingdom Egypt, Thutmose (attributed), Bust of Nefertiti, 1345 BCE, Painted limestone, Neues Museum, Berlin

    The Bust of Nefertiti shows Amarna naturalism and elegance. Its long features and delicate modeling show a shift from rigid formalism to expressive realism.
  • New Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun, 1323 BCE, Gold and precious stones, Egyptian Museum, Cairo
    1323 BCE

    New Kingdom Egypt, Unknown, Funerary Mask of Tutankhamun, 1323 BCE, Gold and precious stones, Egyptian Museum, Cairo

    Tutankhamun’s mask symbolizes divine kingship and eternal life. Its features and high quality materials reflect New Kingdom wealth and religious devotion.