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This decorated jar is from the pre dynastic Egypt era. During this period decorated pottery was used as ritualistic, funerary, and symbolic. The painted figures with red ochre, represent fertility, rebirth, and the journey to the afterlife. Decorated ware was found in burials, and believed jars were symbolic of rebirth and use is funeral practices. This artwork represents the predynastic period with the use of red ochre, pottery reflect Egyptian religious beliefs, practices and daily life. -
During this period art emphasized the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Slates and limestones such as this was used. Palette shows unification showing Narmer wearing both crowns, divine support as Horus, serpopards, and defeating enemies. Both crowns being worn symbolized the king ruled both areas of the country. This artwork represents this period with the use of slate, symbolic animals, scenes arranged in horizontal registers to present events, and reinforces divine kingship. -
During this period, tombs in pyramid form were built and dedicated for Pharaoh's. During this period, they emphasized divine kingship, afterlife, and religious symbolism. Imhotep designed the first monumental stone and the first to combine mortuary and ritual buildings in one. Demonstrates divine kingship by the size of the tomb pyramid and the belief that pharaoh's were living gods. Reflects the importance of King Ka, as ensuring a pharaoh passed to the afterlife by adding staircases to temple. -
The great pyramid of Khufu was built during the old kingdom, Khufu's mortuary complex included seven boats, during this period, boats were symbolized as transportation to the afterlife. Symbolized his divine authority and his journey to the afterlife. Egyptians believed structures like these also ensure the pharaoh's immortality, ensure afterlife ascend along with the solar structure of the pyramid that symbolized the pharaoh's soul to ascend to join the sun god Ra. -
The Menkaure pyramid is the third major pyramid in Giza and was the son of Khafre and grandson of Khufu. As the other two great pyramids, granite was used during this period to built these pyramids. Reflects the architecture of this period. Pyramid was designed for Menkaure's soul to transcend to the afterlife and served as a mortuary temple, designed as a royal tomb and served as a mortuary complex. Egyptians believed pyramids served as a secure place and resting place for pharaoh's. -
Block statues first appeared in the middle kingdom period. These statues were placed in temples for religious purposes and acted as funerary objects, and guaranteed immortality and protection to the afterlife. During this period, realism was used, showing more natural features of important people. As show in the statue having clear contrasts of the face showing a calm expression. The closed block shape was considered a body expression of protection and religious connotations from this period. -
During the middle kingdom period, coffins were decorated with spells, images, and functioned as tombs and symbolized and rebirth and served as protection to the afterlife. The Gua coffin had black lines inside as the map of the underworld to guide the person to the afterlife. Wedjat eyes would be painted on the side of the coffin to allow the deceased to see out the coffin to the rising sun. This reflects this era as it emphasize the religious beliefs of this period with protection of the dead. -
Shabti figures in the middle kingdom period were used as funerary objects, Egyptians placed these tombs amongst other items for the deceased to carry into the afterlife. Figurines were made out of wood as the figurine Shabti of Senebimi was. Egyptians believed the figurines would act as servants and perform manual labor for the deceased in the afterlife. Showing their beliefs and practice of preparing for the afterlife. Representing that of a mummy and Middle Kingdom funerary practices. -
This piece depicts Amenhotep lll as a human headed sphinx. Showing royal authority and protective strength of the animal. During this period Sphinx's, were used by Pharoah's to prove their divine right to rule and as a guardian placed in the temples. The sphinx is made out of faience and blue glaze, Egyptians used these materials to signify the Nile river, rebirth and divinity. It's significant to this period as it shows how egyptians believed in divine kingship and maintained cosmic order. -
The Death Mask of Tutankhamun is made of solid gold and stone, placed over the mummy inside the pharaoh's tomb. Served as protection to the afterlife. The headdress emphasizes divine kingship and protection. The use of gold during the New Kingdom was believed to be the flesh of the gods. This mask shows how Egyptians viewed their ruler as great importance to the afterlife and their representation of a god. Demonstrates the New kingdom period with the use of gold, religious beliefs and afterlife. -
In the New Kingdom era, during mummification, Egyptians started removing the organs and putting them inside these jars. They believed that the soul and body continued into the afterlife, removing internal organs and placing them into four jars representing the four sons of Horus as shown above. Canopic jars were significant during this period because it shows the practice of mummification, preparing for afterlife, and Canopus, a divine being represented in the form of a jar with small feet.