A survey of Egyptian art and architecture is enhanced by revised text, an updated bibliography, and over four hundred illustrations.

From Berlin to Boston, and St Petersburg to Sydney, ancient Egyptian art fills the galleries of some of the world's greatest museums, while the architecture of Egyptian temples and pyramids has attracted tourists to Egypt for centuries. But what did Egyptian art and architecture mean to the people who first made and used it - and why has it had such an enduring appeal? In this Very Short Introduction, Christina Riggs explores the visual arts produced in Egypt over a span of some 4,000 years. The stories behind these objects and buildings have much to tell us about how people in ancient Egypt lived their lives in relation to each other, the natural environment, and the world of the gods. Demonstrating how ancient Egypt has fascinated Western audiences over the centuries with its impressive pyramids, eerie mummies, and distinctive visual style, Riggs considers the relationship between ancient Egypt and the modern world. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Ancient Egyptian art and architecture are fascinating, beautiful, and complex. I've always been fascinated by the pyramids of Egypt and how they were built. They are incredible feats of engineering—but also religious centers where worshipers would go to pray and make offerings to their gods. In addition to temples, there were also tombs for royalty (known as mastabas) and commoners (known as shaft tombs), which were all made with an eye toward eternal life. Ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses were important in Egyptian culture. They were often represented in art or architecture and played an integral role in daily life. Though the god Osiris was known to be king of the dead, he did not hold the same power as other gods such as Ra or Hathor (a cow-headed goddess). The priesthoods of these deities generally ruled over specific cities or professions; for example, priests at a temple dedicated to Amun would preside over all matters related to agriculture. Such temples were built throughout Egypt's history; one example is Deir el-Bahari (meaning "monastery of the northern valley"), which served as both a royal mortuary temple and monastery for Nefertari during her lifetime. Many structures built during this period reflect traditional architectural practices: thick columns made from stone support large roof beams made from wood; outer walls are covered with painted plaster decorated with scenes depicting daily life—for example, artists working on wall paintings inside temples such as this one often described themselves taking part in those very activities! You may have heard that pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs, but there's more to it. The pharaohs were buried in the Valley of the Kings, part of the Great Pyramids complex. The pyramids are made up of stone blocks of limestone, built with ramps rather than cranes or scaffolding so that workers could move them into place. In terms of shape, they're somewhere between a cube and a cone; this helps keep them stable during construction and makes them look good from afar! Temples were the most important buildings in ancient Egypt. They were places of worship and learning, government, and justice. The temple was the most important place for any Egyptian because it was where people could connect with their gods and get guidance on how to lead a good life.

A Companion to Ancient Egyptian Art presents a comprehensive collection of original essays exploring key concepts, critical discourses, and theories that shape the discipline of ancient Egyptian art. • Winner of the 2016 PROSE Award for Single Volume Reference in the Humanities & Social Sciences • Features contributions from top scholars in their respective fields of expertise relating to ancient Egyptian art • Provides overviews of past and present scholarship and suggests new avenues to stimulate debate and allow for critical readings of individual art works • Explores themes and topics such as methodological approaches, transmission of Egyptian art and its connections with other cultures, ancient reception, technology and interpretation, • Provides a comprehensive synthesis on a discipline that has diversified to the extent that it now incorporates subjects ranging from gender theory to ‘X-ray fluorescence’ and ‘image-based interpretations systems’

Most of the "wonders" of our ancient past have come down to us unencumbered by written information. In particular, this is the case of the Great Pyramid of Giza and of many other ancient Egyptian monuments. However, there is no doubt as to the interest of their builders in the celestial cycles: the "cosmic order" was indeed the true basis of the pharaoh's power. This book takes the reader on a chronological journey through ancient Egypt to explore the relationship between astronomy, landscape, and power during the most flourishing periods of ancient Egyptian civilization. Using the lens of archaeoastronomy, Giulio Magli reexamines the key monuments and turning points of Egyptian architecture and history, such as the solar deification of King Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid, the Hatshepsut reign, and the Amarna revolution.

This compact volume is meant for travelers eager to know more about the civilization, culture and history of Ancient Egypt.