Art and Craftsmanship in Ancient Egypt

• Arts and crafts were very important to ancient Egypt.

• Skilled craftsmen were responsible for creating and decorating temples, and the tombs and houses of the wealthy; they enjoyed many privileges.

• Artists and crafts people created paintings, sculptures, weavings, and other forms of artistic expression.

• Craftspeople such as carpenters and metalworkers formed an important class; though they were considered a step below the artists.

• Artists used mineral pigments to create paints. After painting the walls, a wash of snake venom or egg white would be painted over the colours to protect them from rain, wind, sand, and other elements.

• Most of the artwork created by ancient Egyptians was about their religion.

• Minerals use to create colours are: blue (azurite), red (iron oxide), green (malachite), white (sandstone, calcium), black (charcoal), and yellow (ochre).

• Detailed scenes were painted on the walls and tombs of the pharaohs and nobles. It is from these images that we learn about ancient Egypt.

• Dancing and music were important to daily life in Egypt.

• Banquets and private celebrations had troupes of professional singers, dancers, acrobats, and musicians. Also, ritual dances were performed as part of funerals and burial ceremonies.

• Ancient Egyptians had string, wind, and percussion instruments. Castanets and rattles known as sistra were used to keep rhythm.