Art in Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egyptian art dates back five thousand years ago. This art was created by the Egyptians to show the history and story of the ancient Egyptians. Some of the most common elements in this art are the depiction of gods and pharaohs. One of the strategies the Egyptians used in their art was to increase the figure size based on how important the diety was.

Gods which were more important than other gods and goddesses were shown larger. Along with art portraying the pharaohs as larger than all the other elements in the piece. Religion was a key factor in Egyptian art. Much of the pieces out there were inspired by a god or goddess.

Pharaohs were also considered to be god-like or divine so they were common in Egyptian artwork.

Ancient Egyptian Art Time Periods

There are several time periods that are relevant concerning Egyptian art.

The Protodynastic period started around the year 3300 BC, and this Egyptian art period ended in 26990 BC.

The Predynastic period of Egyptian art also covers the time before the first Egyptian dynasty, and lasted up until 2680 BC. The Old Kingdom took place from 2680 BC till 2258 BC.

Egyptian art from the Middle Kingdom period dates back to between 2134 BC and 1786 BC.

The New Kingdom time period started in 1570 BC and then ended in 1085 BC, and the Amarna period started in 1350 BC and was prevalent for thirty years until the year 1320 BC.

Ancient Egyptian art from the Ptolemaic period dates back to 332 BC and the year 30 BC.

Art from each of these time periods differ from what is found in other time periods. Some experts can even date a piece of art simply by examining it closely, and evaluating the style and characteristics used in the creation of the Egyptian art.

The Styles, Symbolism, And Characteristics Of Egyptian Art

Egyptian art was created following strict rules concerning forms and the three dimensional representations of these.

The elements of nature and life were depicted on the art exactly as these were seen by the artist. The ancient Egyptians preferred art that was complete down to the smallest detail, instead of creating works that were intended to be merely beautiful or highly cosmetic.

The lines of the artwork are very elementary, clear, and cleanly done. Egyptian art also combines simple depictions of shapes and colored areas which are flat and stand out.

The size of the characters carried importance due to the larger figures being more superior to the smaller ones in this art. Colors were used to symbolize specific meanings.

Green and blue were used to show life and the Nile River, the source of life for the ancient Egyptians. Red was used in ancient Egyptian art to show vitality, power, and strength.

Yellow was used to honor or represent the sun god. Animals were also important and were very popular in ancient Egyptian art. Due to the dry air of Egypt much of what has been recovered in Egyptian art has been in excellent condition. The colors and pictures still bright and visible today after thousands of years.

Ancient Egyptian Art Forms

There are many different forms used in Egyptian art. Papyrus was a popular one that was used. Papyrus is also one of the earliest forms of paper used by the Egyptians.

Almost all aspects of the Egyptian society can be found written on papyrus texts.

Pottery was another form used in Egyptian art. In many burial chambers pottery is found.

Sculpture was another art form practiced in ancient Egypt. Many art pieces from this time have hieroglyphics included on them. Hieroglyphic writing is considered an art form on its own.

Paintings, literature, and funerary art were also popular forms of ancient Egyptian art.

Ancient Egyptian Art Today

Egyptian art is incorporated into most cultures. You can travel to popular furniture stores and find a few pieces, or another niche hobby stores. Flea markets are also places to check to find unique pieces.

But, if you’re looking for something specific and don’t have the funds to travel to Egypt, shopping online is a great alternative.

To find out more check out Ancient Egyptian Art. Or visit my website about Ancient Egypt.