2. Ancient Egypt was a civilization of ancient North Africa,
concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River,
situated in the place that is now the country Egypt.
Ancient Egyptian civilization followed prehistoric Egypt
and coalesced around 3100 BC (according to
conventional Egyptian chronology) with the political
unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under Menes
(often identified with Narmer).
The history of ancient Egypt occurred as a series of stable
kingdoms, separated by periods of relative instability
known as Intermediate Periods: the Old Kingdom of the
Early Bronze Age, the Middle Kingdom of the Middle
Bronze Age and the New Kingdom of the Late Bronze Age.
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
3. The success of ancient Egyptian civilization came
partly from its ability to adapt to the conditions of
the Nile River valley for agriculture. The
predictable flooding and controlled irrigation of
the fertile valley produced surplus crops, which
supported a more dense population, and social
development and culture.
4. A major contributor to late Neolithic art, Egyptian culture is probably the best known form
of ancient art in the Mediterranean basin, before the advent of Greek civilization (c.600
BCE). Ancient Egyptian architecture, for example, is world famous for the extraordinary
Egyptian Pyramids, while other features unique to the art of Ancient Egypt include its
writing script based on pictures and symbols (hieroglyphics), and its meticulous hieratic
style of painting and stone carving. Egyptian civilization was shaped by the geography of
the country as well as the political, social and religious customs of the period.
Protected by its desert borders and sustained by the waters of the Nile, Egyptian arts and
crafts developed largely unhindered (by external invasion or internal strife) over many
centuries. The Pharaoh (originally meaning 'palace') was worshipped as a divine ruler
(supposedly the incarnation of the god Horus), but typically maintained firm control through
a strict bureaucratic hierarchy,whose members were often appointed on merit.
EGYPTIAN ART
5.
6. The function of Egyptian art was twofold. First, to glorify the gods - including the
Pharaoh - and facilitate human passage into the after-life. Second, to assert,
propagandize and preserve the values of the day. Due to the general stability of
Egyptian life and culture, all arts - including architecture
and sculpture, as well as painting, metalwork and goldsmithing - were
characterized by a highly conservative adherence to traditional rules, which favored
order and form over creativity and artistic expression. Decorative arts included the
first examples of Nail Art.
7. Egyptian textiles during the Dynastic Era (3100 BCE–300 BCE) were primarily linen,
although wool was not unknown. (Cotton and silk were introduced only later.) Linen was
produced in three basic grades: royal or fine linen, thin cloth, and smooth cloth.
Production of royal linen, the highest grade, was a palace monopoly. Its manufacture
took place both in the royal palace and in workshops associated with state temples.
These workshops were supervised from the royal harem and were obligated to provide
specific amounts of linen annually for use in the royal household and in temple rituals.
Presumably it was this highest grade of linen that was also used in international trade.
As is often the case, much of our knowledge of the processes for textile production, use,
and care is derived from scenes portrayed in the funerary art of the social elite and tomb
models showing textile workshops, coupled with the study of surviving textile examples
(and Egypt’sdry climate has helped to preserve.
EGYPTIAN TEXTILE
8.
9. The Egyptian religion had over 2000 gods,
though only a few of these were predominant.
The important gods had a cult center where their
principal temple was located. One of the most
important was Ra, the sun god, understandably
critical to an agricultural society. They believed in
a life after death.
They referred to this as the “next world,” and
thought it was somewhere to the West. They
developed elaborate burials and embalming to
preserve the body for this second life.
Goods and servants were buried with royalty
and nobles to serve them.
RELIGION AND CULTURE
10. The three biggest pyramids (Khufu, Khafre and
Menkaure, c. 26th century BCE) making up the Giza
pyramid complex are one of the most iconic sights on
the planet. Constructed from millions of perfectly cut
limestone blocks stacked on bedrock, the sacred
pyramid shapes were made to house the remains of
pharaohs.
The word pyramid comes from ancient
Greek pyramis. The ancient Egyptian hieroglyph for
the structure is mr (pronounced “mer”). The smaller
pyramids in the complex housed the remains of
queens.
ARCHITECTURE
11. The earliest Egyptian structures were created from
simple mud bricks—Nile clay and sand mixed with other
ingredients like straw and dried in the Egyptian sun. In
fact, the first tombs built during the Old Kingdom were
made from these modest bricks. They are called mastaba
(“stone bench”) in Arabic because of their flat tops and
sloping sides. The first pyramid (c. 2667-2648 BCE) was
the Pyramid of Djoser, made of six brick mastabas
stacked on top of each other.
The Egyptians used a post and lintel system to create
elaborate buildings, like the Temple of Karnak with its
stout pillars supporting massive stone slabs.
12. It’s been hundredsof thousands of years since the first simple
jewelery pieces were crafted from seashells, bone, and
animal skin. In the years since our ancestors first left the
African continent, Egypthasbecome a dominant civilization
in ancient history.
They were empowered by advances in technology,and access
to gemstones and precious metals.
They were inspired by the culture of royalty and nobles who
had a deep appreciation for luxury and it wasn’t long before
they becamethe leading force in manufacturing jewelry and
creating long lasting trends.
ORNAMENTS
13. The ancient Egyptians valued personal adornment highly and Egyptianjewelery was worn by
women and men, and of all social classes.Their statues of gods and kings were decked with lavish
jewels.The deceased were adorned in jewelry for their send off into the afterlife. All types of
Egyptian jewelery were popular,including bracelets,earrings,collar pieces, anklets, armbands,and
rings.Golden jewelery became a status symbol in pre- dynastic Egypt. It was a symbol of power,
religion, and status.
In addition to gold and materials commonly found throughout Egypt,other materials were
imported. The favoured material for the EgyptianScarab was Lapis Lazuli, a semi-precious stone.
High grade Egyptian jewelry was a majorly desired trade item in the ancient world. Their
craftsmanship was found acrossterritories including Turkey, Rome, ancient Persia, and Greece.
The Egyptian nobility favored bracelets,necklaces, amulets,pendants,belts, and hair beads. They
loved pieces that had been designed with scrolls, tigers, scarab beetles, winged birds,jackals,
antelopes,and tigers. One of the more interesting materials that was commonly used is coloured
glass.It was
14. Materials and Metals
The predominant materials used to craft Egyptianjewelry were gold and
copper. The masses could afford the copper, with the nobility opting for gold.
Both were mined in Nubian deserts and in abundant supply. Silver is very rarely
uncovered in excavations through Egypt- any use of it was due to its
importation, as silver wasn’t available in ancient Egypt.Jewelers would use gold
that came in shadesof grey, to reddish brown, and rose.
The colour variation was due to the mixing of elementssuch ascopper, iron,
or silver into the gold.
Gems & Stones
The more lavish pieces of Egyptian jewelry were inlaid with semiprecious
stones and various gems. The most prized stones were, as mentioned above,
lapis lazuli, as well as obsidian, garnet, rock crystal,
and carnelian. Pearls and emeraldswere the most commonly uses stones
native to Egypt.Although,faience was also used commonly.This was made
from ground quartz and then mixed with a colorant that was heated and then
moulded to mimic more natural and expensive stones.
The most popular of which was a blue-green shade made to imitate turquoise.
15. Typesof Jewelery
Perhaps the most iconic ornament from ancient Egypt is the wide collar necklace. It was generally made
of beaded rows and shaped like flowers or animals. The collar was stretched over the wearer from breast
to collarbone. It was also common for pendants to be strung on beaded necklaces, bearing an amulet of
protection. Both men and women wore earrings, and rings were also popular for men and women.
Egyptian Amulets
Amulets in Ancient Egypt were both decorativeand practical,as they were considered as having apotropaicpowers
to protect or bestow power upon the wearer. Not only worn by the living, amulets have been found inside the
wrappingsof mummies, as they were used to prepare the deceased for the afterlife.
Amulets held different meanings, depending on their type or form. Small amulets depicting gods and goddesses
seem to have induced the protective powers of the deity. On the other hand, small representationsof anatomical
features or creatures suggest that the wearer required protection over a specific body part, or that he/she desired
the skills of a particularanimal.Amulets depicting animalswere very common in the Old Kingdom Period, whilst
representationsof deities gained popularityin the MiddleKingdom.
18. CONTEMPORARY FASHION FROM
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
Egypt is a country of kingship and divinity. Ancient Egyptians loved fashionable clothes and other
accessories. Clothing style was simple and elegant. They took a lot of care in grooming their appearance,
and their garments were designed, crafted, and worn with great thought and care. Their clothing style
gave them a unique cultural look in history. Egyptians designed their clothes to be light weight so as to
suit the hot climate of the country. Most of their clothes were made from plant fibres. They wore clothes
made of linen throughout the hot weather.
In today's world, fads come and go for every season. But in the 3000 year old Egyptian history, fashion
changed very little. During the Old Kingdom, people wore simple garments that did not require much
sewing. Men and women mostly wore draped clothes, held in place by knots in the fabric, and waist
belts. Their clothes were mostly white. Creme-da-le-crme people of the society wore long, pleated, and
see-through robes. During the New Kingdom, fashion became more modernized, with elaborate pleats
and fringes sewn in tunics and other garments. Their clothes became more decorated and complex.
Clothes with intricate embroidery made its debut. During this period, the Egyptians were influenced by
the fashion brought by Assyrians, Greeks and Persians.
19. Men from the 'pyramid land' were more fashion conscious
than the women of their times. From the drawings, and
fabric pieces found in tombs and other places, it is been
found that men wore more than forty different types of
garments. Men's fashion of the Old Kingdom consisted of
a knee-length kilt. They were rectangular in shape, and
knotted or fastened with a buckle at the waist. Kilts served
various purposes, like indicating the age, and social
position of the wearer.
Over the kilts, men wore long pleated skirts with a pleated
apron, decorated with a fringed sash. Robes were used in
various designs, long and flowing. The New Kingdom fashion
changed the look of Egyptian men.
Application of dyes on clothes brought more colorful linen
garments. Their kilt was elaborately fringed and pleated.
Sashes and aprons were added to their attire to give them
a complete 'fashionable' look.
MEN’SATTIRE
20. Women's clothing was 'form fitting'. A unique and refined
fashion, delicate and choosy for an even and slim
female figure was in vogue. In the Old Kingdom, women
wore long skirts with fringed robes and pleats which was
wrapped around their waists, pulled over their shoulders
and secured under their chest with a knot.
In the period of New Kingdom, fashion for women
changed by the usage of colorful linen in their clothes.
Their simple tube dresses were adorned by elaborate
pleated and fringed robe worn over the dress. Women
wore long robes parted in the middle to expose their
legs. Wealthy women decorated their garments with
embroidery, sequins, feathers, and rosettes. Wealthier
the class, more transparent their dress were.
WOMEN’SATTIRE
21. It is a universal fact that fashion designers of the modern day
get their inspiration from the past. Egyptian fashion is an apt
example of this. Visualizing the Egyptian era, and comparing it
with the modern fashion, one may see many similarities. The
black kohl eyeliner used by ancient Egyptians to darken and
highlight their eyes, are showcased today by both male and
female models in the ramp shows.
Models are seen strolling down the runways of prominent
international fashion shows displaying trendy garments
designed with an inspiration of elegant Egyptian clothing.
Pleating and draping was a popular style followed by
Egyptians.
INFLUENCEOFEGYPTIANATTIRE
ONMODERNFASHION
22. The ancient attire of straight fitting with shoulder straps that was tied behind the neck of shoulders
is now one of the most popular silhouettes in the recent fashion. Egyptian tunic style dresses and
tops with belting in the waist are now being sought after by most women. High waistlines that were
popular in Egyptian times are seen in fashion currently through the revival of baby doll dresses.
Lightweight linen clothes worn during ancient times are followed even today. In the current day's
trend, many Egyptian motives are used. The hieroglyphics (ancient Egyptian letters), sphinxes,
lotus flowers and scarab (a beetle associated with Egyptian god Kepera) are seen in dresses, and
other fashion related accessories also. Egyptian style is adopted more strongly in US and in
Europe.
Egyptian influence in costumes is seen in the garment styles and also in the embroideries that
adorned the garments. Its influence in fashion exists quite predominantly. While the fashion of
ancient Egypt is thousands of years old, modern day fashion is much inspired by its ancient
clothing styles. Modern day fashions have taken a twist on the ancient clothing styles of Egypt, and
will undoubtedly continue in the years to come.
23. Gods of Egypt Movie
Gods of Egypt is a 2016 fantasy action film directed by Alex Proyas based on the ancient
Egyptian deities.
Synopsis & Plot
In this spectacular action-adventure inspired by the classic mythology of Egypt, the survival
of mankind hangs in the balance as an unexpected mortal hero Bek (Brenton Thwaites)
undertakes a thrilling journey to save the world and rescue his true love. In order to
succeed, he must enlist the help of the powerful god Horus (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) in an
unlikely alliance against Set (Gerard Butler), the merciless god of darkness, who has
usurped Egypt's throne, plunging the once peaceful and prosperous empire into chaos and
conflict. As their breathtaking battle against Set and his henchmen takes them into the
afterlife and across the heavens, both god and mortal must pass tests of courage and
sacrifice if they hope to prevail in the epic final confrontation.
MOVIEBASED ON
EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
