Ancient Egypt Architecture, Interiors, Items of Furniture, and Decorative Arts - Research Paper Example

The architecture of Ancient Egypt tended to be based on mud brick and stone constructions, and this was because there was a scarcity of wood in this state ("Egyptian Architecture" 1). The wood, which could be acquired in substantial quantities, tended not to be brought from Lebanon or from Nubia to the south of Egypt. The acquisition of wood was an expensive procedure, and this necessitated the use of stone or mud brick for construction. From the earliest times of this state, stone was reserved mainly for the construction of temples and places of burial since the Ancient Egyptians believed that such buildings had to be durable. In the case of burial places or tombs, they believed that if the body was destroyed, then the soul would be destroyed along with it, and this encouraged the construction of tombs using stone. On the other hand, mud bricks were used for the construction of the palaces of the monarchs, fortresses, as well as the less significant buildings of the temple complexes. While building pyramids, their core used to be made of the stone that could already be found in the area as the rest of the structure was built from limestone, which was brought to the construction site from quarries a considerable distance away. The houses of the common people tended to be constructed using mud that was collected from the Nile and after being left out to dry in the sun in molds. After these had hardened, they were then used in buildings, making them the cheapest material for construction that could be afforded by the commoners ("Brick" 1). The mud bricks that were made tended to be highly durable and some of the buildings in which they were used can still be found standing today. Because of the fact that many of the villages and towns of this state were situated in areas that were close to those used for cultivation, many did not survive for long periods. The reason for this is that the cultivated areas tended to be close to the Nile River, and the annual flooding tended to bring down such constructions. Moreover, the occupants of villages, most of whom were peasants tended to break down their brick structures and use them as fertilizer when planting their crops. While quite a number of constructions have survived to the current age, some of them are not easy to get to because newer modern buildings have been constructed above them, hence making them inaccessible ("Egypt to Tear Down "). Those, which are accessible are the ones that were built on high ground, where the floodwaters could not reach them. Most of the latter were constructed using stone, and this ensured their durability. The latter include tombs and some temples whose builders made sure that they were constructed to last for ages (Genzlinger). Since the temples and similar buildings lasted for a long time, the understanding of the architecture of ancient Egypt is understood mainly through their study. These enormous structures main characteristic was sloppy walls and had extraordinarily few openings. This may be an imitation of the construction style, which was used to acquire stability in the construction of mud walls. In addition, the curved and horizontal modeled surface beautification of these buildings could have been derived from the practice of beautifying mud walls. Despite the Egyptians having the knowledge of using the arch, most of their buildings tended to have a post and lintel, which consisted of horizontal roofs that were made out of blocks of stone and were held up by exterior walls and columns whose spaces were close. When one considers the walls of the temples, one will find that both the internal and external walls were enveloped with hieroglyphics and pictures that were painted in bright colors. Most of these paintings were symbolic and included the scarab, which was a sacred beetle among many other symbolic elements. Hieroglyphics were put in temple walls for the sake of decoration as well as the recording of momentous events. The pictures painted on the walls also provide an insight of the people of this ancient civilization lifestyle, definition of their social statuses, and their religious beliefs (Drohojowska-Philp 3). The latter is most correct especially when one explores the tombs of principal officials as well as those of members of the royal family. The decorative arts of ancient Egypt were some of the most advanced of their time and the most well known of these arts are the hieroglyphics. This was the inscription style of the inhabitants of this nation, and the method of writing was decorative. These covered the walls of almost all the relevant architecture of the state, the most significant being the temples and the tombs of distinguished state officials. These hieroglyphics not only served a decorative purpose but they were also used to tell the stories of the everyday lives of the Egyptians ("Ancient Egyptian Temples" 7). In addition, these people had a love for making sculptures out of pieces of pottery, with the belief that making them in the images of their gods would protect them from evil. While this may have been the main reason behind it, these sculptures also served a decorative purpose because they were made into items, which were used in everyday life. One of the greatest pieces of art that the Egyptians developed was in the curving of the sarcophagi, especially those that contained the bodies of their monarchs. Among the most used materials for the purpose of decoration in ancient Egypt was gold, and one would say that this metal contributed in a significant way in adding the richness of its art. Gold was employed in the production of ornaments of various types as well as for making beads. While precious stones were rarely used for purposes of decoration, a wide variety of semiprecious stones were used to beautify certain objects and surfaces. When one considers the jewelry of the ancient Egyptians, one finds that their jewelers had an outstanding sense of design. The jewelry made for members of the royal household was exquisite with their like never having been made since then. The houses of many Egyptians were sparsely furnished, and this was mainly because they rarely had any personal items that they wanted hidden away. The only things that they needed to keep items away tended to be either baskets or chests. In fact, tables were rarely used and even those who held prestigious positions, such as scribes, did not use them. Working in the kitchen was done crouching because there were no tables in kitchens. In many houses, especially those of the common people, there would be some stools, but in most cases, people just sat on the floor. The height of chairs in Ancient Egypt was a sign of status, and the higher one’s seat was the higher the status of that individual in society. Chairs could be found in the houses of the wealthy, especially those officials who worked for the government. Beds were a reserve for the wealthy while the poor had to do with either sleeping on straw or on mats, because wood was an expensive item in ancient Egypt. Headrests were some of the most common items that many Egyptians owned because they were used instead of pillows in many households. Since most of the furniture in Egypt was made of wood, which was a scarce material in that land, then such could mostly be afforded by those people who were wealthy. Works Cited "Ancient Egyptian Temples Aligned With Astronomical Events." New Scientist 203.2724 (2009): 7. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. "Brick." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2011): 1. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. "Egyptian Architecture." Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6Th Edition (2011): 1-2. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. "Egypt to Tear Down Homes at Ancient Sites." New York Times: 0. Jan 22 1998. Genzlinger, Neil. "The how Behind the what of Ancient Egypt." New York Times: 0. Oct 09 2006. Drohojowska-Philp, Hunter. "ART; can You Dig it?; LACMA's 'American Discovery of Ancient Egypt' Brings Achievements of U.S. Archeologists to Light." Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext): 3. Nov 05 1995. Read More