Egyptian architecture is known for:

 They built huge structures like pyramids and temples to honor pharaohs and gods.
 They used specific proportions based on importance to design buildings.
 They valued balance and precise alignment in their architecture
 Massive Stone Construction: Large stone blocks were carefully carved and assembled for
durability
 Columns: Columns were decorated with symbols and hieroglyphics.
 Pyramids had square or rectangular bases and symbolized the pharaoh's journey to the
afterlife.
 Buildings featured intricate carvings and reliefs depicting various scenes.
 These flat-roofed structures preceded pyramids as tombs.
 Large halls with columns were common in temples.
 Many structures had sun-related symbols like obelisks.
 These temples were built near pyramids for religious purposes.They used the Nile River for
transportation and aligned structures with celestial bodies

Egyptian pottery:
 Made from clay and often coated with colorful faience glaze.
 Varied from basic containers to intricately designed items like figurines.
 Elaborate scenes from daily life, hieroglyphics, and symbols were common.
 Featured vibrant hues like blue, green, red, and black.
 Often carried religious and afterlife symbolism, like lotus and papyrus motifs.
 Used in tombs for offerings to the deceased, with specific designs for this purpose.
 Employed wheel-throwing and hand-building techniques for detailed designs.
 Styles changed over time, aiding in dating archaeological sites.
 Offers valuable insights into ancient Egyptian culture, art, and beliefs.

Characteristics of Egyptian paintings:

 Flat Perspective: Two-dimensional, with frontal and profile views.
 Hierarchical Scaling: Size represents importance.
 Symbolism: Colors and objects carry specific meanings.
 Hierarchical Arrangement: Important figures centered.
 Register System: Horizontal bands organize narratives.
 Frontal Faces and Profiles: Faces frontal, torsos in profile.
 Use of Hieroglyphs: Incorporates Egyptian writing.
 Depiction of Hieratic Scale: Emphasizes key figures.
 Consistency and Tradition: Follows strict artistic conventions.
 Limited Color Palette: Earthy tones with symbolic meanings.
 Narrative Scenes: Depicts mythology, rituals, daily life.
 Tomb Paintings: Commonly found in tombs, showing the afterlife journey
Egyptian symbols:
 Hieroglyphs: Pictorial writing system.
 Animal Symbols: Scarab, falcon, etc., with unique meanings.
 Plant Symbols: Lotus and papyrus for purity and regions.
 Gods/Goddesses: Depicted deities for protection.
 Ankh: Cross-like symbol for life and immortality.
 Eye of Horus: Symbolizes protection and royal power.
 Djed Pillar: Represents stability and Osiris.
 Serpent: Uraeus for protection and authority.
 Cartouche: Oval name frame for pharaohs.
 Symbolism in Art: Richly symbolic tomb art.
 Cosmic Symbols: Sun disk, celestial cow, etc.
 Dualism: Balance, like Ma'at vs. Isfet.
 Amulets: Protective charms like ankh, scarab.
 Funerary Symbols: Aid in the afterlife journey.

Egyptian sculptures are known for:

 Often depicted in a stiff, formal pose, reflecting the Egyptian reverence for order and
stability.
 Conveyed deep religious and cultural meanings through symbolic elements like hieroglyphs,
headdresses, and gestures.
 Typically viewed from the front, with heads and legs in a standard profile, while torsos faced
forward.
 Used varying sizes to indicate the importance of figures; pharaohs were often depicted
larger than others.
 Pharaohs were portrayed idealized, youthful, and divine, emphasizing their authority and
connection to gods.
 Artistic conventions remained relatively consistent over thousands of years, emphasizing
tradition and continuity.
 Often created for religious or funerary contexts, serving as offerings to gods or
representations of the deceased in the afterlife.