Ancient Egyptian history

I. Old Kingdom: 2650-2134 B.C.E.-- 3 pyramids at Giza (Khufu, Chephren, Mycerinus)

II. Middle Kingdom: 2040-1640 B.C.E.

-- Classic literature (Tale of Sinuhe, e.g.)

III. New Kingdom: 1550-1070 B.C.E.

-- Fascinating rulers

Ancient Egypt

Nomes in Lower Egypt

Ancient Egypt

Step pyramid (Saqqara)

The Great Pyramid (455 feet tall)

View of Pyramids from Cairo

Vista of 3 Pyramids at Giza

Overview of Great Pyramid

Complex

An entrance

Going into the pyramid

Statues of Khufu, Hathor & Khafre

Interior of Great Pyramid of Khufu

with red granite sarcophagus

View of Great Pyramid with Sphinx

Menkaure’s pyramid complex (N.B. His was the smallest of the three pyramids at Giza – only 204 feet tall!)

Inside of Menkaure’s pyramid

Meidum (probably built for Snefru)

Bent Pyramid(ca 2600 B.C.E.) –

also built for Snefru

Seated Statue of a Woman in Giza

(Lady Isrun, 5th-6th Dynasty)

Temple at Edfu

Temple of Amun Re at Karnak

Columns inside Karnak

Karnak at night

Statues of pharaoh and consort at

Karnak

Valley of Kings (overview)

Artwork on wall of tomb

New Kingdom pharaohs, esp.

from the turbulent 18th dynasty

-Hatshepsut

-Akenaton (aka Amenhotep IV)

-Tutankhamun

-Ramesses II (19th dynasty; ruled

1279-1213 B.C.E.)

Hatshepsut (ruled 1479-1458 B.C.E.)

Vista of Hatshepsut’s temple at

Deir el-Bahri

Close-up of Deir el-Bahri

Bas-relief of men fishing

(Deir el-Bahri)

The Colossi of Memnon (statues of the pharaoh

Amenhotep III from ca 1350 B.C.E.)

Akheneton(formerly Amenhotep IV ), the “heretic king”

-In contrast to other Egyptian pharaohs,

Akenaton ( 1353-1336 B.C.E.) was an

unabashed monotheist . Shortly after

becoming pharaoh, he introduced the

worship of Aton, god of the sun-disk,

and changed his name to reflect his

allegiance to this one god. He also

lessened the power of the priestly elite

and built a new capitol at Akenaten (“It

is well with Aton”) , 200 miles north of

Thebes. After his death the priestly elite

at Thebes regained power and

polytheism was restored.

Tutankhamun, the “boy king”

-Recent DNA testing by Dr.

Zahi Hawass has shown this

pharaoh to be Akenaten’s son

-Became pharaoh at the age

of 8

-Ruled from 1333-1323 B.C.E.

-Restored the traditional

religion

-Probably died of an accident

- Tomb found in 1921 by

Howard Carter

The mummy of Seti I (19th dynasty)- found 1881 near Valley of the Kings

Abu Simbel (constructed 1244 -1224 B.C.E.

by Ramesses II)

Close-up of Abu Simbel

Six statues (Queen’s temple) –

probably Nefertari’s temple

Another view of Queen’s temple

Standing pair – 5th dynasty -

limestone

Statue at Luxor