New+Kingdom+(Nick+2nd+Period)

//from Mr. Bowers AP Art History Courses at East Chapel Hill High School// //this article is about the art and culture of// "The Old Kingdom in Ancient Egypt"

**New Kingdom in Context:** **1539-1075 BCE**

Following the Hyksos invasion and Second Intermediate Period, the Ancient Egyptians strived for a buffer zone between their empire and the rest of Mesopotamia. This led to the greatest Egyptian period of conquest, where, led by rulers such as Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, and Ramses the Great; Egypt reached its furthest imperial boundaries. This period also gave way to Akhenaten, and the Amarna period. Although mainly marked by Architectural innovations, some new artistic conventions found their way into the previously static Egyptian style. Furthermore, in contrast to the Middle Kingdom, tombs were once again built as monumental structures that matched the pyramids of the Old Kingdom.

__**Major Architectural Works**__
 * The Great Temple at Karnak:**

Renovated and expanded for almost 500 years, the Great Temple at Karnak overlooks the Egyptian landscape as a temple to Amun. Throughout the Old Kingdom, Pharaohs would fund their own projects to improve the temple. It follows an axial plan, and is symmetrical along the processional path. The path featured giant pylon gateways that lead to a peristyle courtyard, and a hypostyle hall. This hallhas later been called the Great Hall, and showcases columns with lotus bud capitals, and a clerestory to ventilate the hall. This was considered a meeting place for the common people, and was decorated with relief sculpture everywhere. Near the heart of the temple was the sanctuary to Amun, which contained the statue maintained by Egyptian priests. As one walked down the processional paths, the rooms became smaller, darker, and more exclusive, as only priests or the pharaoh was allowed inside. Today, the remains of the temple still stand today, and cover a vast distance of approximately 12 football fields.


 * Funerary Temple of Hatshepsut: **

As one of the few women pharaohs in Ancient Egypt, Queen Hatshepsut left her own impressive mark on history. Among her grand architectural projects included her own funerary temple at Deir el-Bahri. This temple was explicitly not a tomb, but more of a temple commemorating her life. Similar to the Karnak temple (to which it is oriented), Hatshepsut’s temple was also on an axial plan, with aprocessional path that forms a line of symmetry. However, it was built into a cliff side, thus the processional path is inclined and gradually leads to porticos, hypostyle halls, and finally the innermost sanctuary. Surrounding the causeway lay pools of water, trees, and sphinxes, a remarkable achievement in the midst of the desert. Throughout the structure, relief sculptures depict the life and expeditions of Hatshepsut, although many were destroyed in an attempt to efface the history of her reign. Like Karnak, its monumental size exemplifies the reign of Hatshepsut, and the power of Ancient Egypt.


 * The Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel: **

In commemoration of Ramses II, arguably the most powerful Egyptian pharaoh in history, two massive temples were carved out of the rock at Abu-Simbel. These two temples were funerary monuments, like that of Hatshepsut, not tombs. The more renowned temple displays the power of Ramses in its four massive sculptures of the pharaoh. At 65 feet tall, they illustrate the might of Ramses and his empire. Surrounding these statues are smaller statues of his family, who reach about up to his knee. Inscribed in an obelisk nearby reads “As long as the skies exist, your monuments shall exist, your name shall exist, as firm as the skies.” The other temple, located 500 feet away, honors the goddess Hathor, and his wife Nefertari. These two temples were placed allowing their axes to cross in the middle of the Nile, suggesting that they are responsible for the yearly flood.

**__Major Artworks__**
 * Sarcophagus of King Tutankhamen:**

As one of the most recognizable artifacts in Egypt, the sarcophagus and golden mask of King Tut represents the riches and grandeur of Ancient Egypt. It originates from one of the few tombs to never be robbed, and thus has provided recent generations with a gold mine of history. The sarcophagus is a solid gold encasement of the pharaoh’s body. King Tut’s physical characteristics are reflected in the funerary mask, and he holds various symbols of Egyptian afterlife and religion. Among these include the nemes headcloth, symbolizing military success, and the crook and flail, a reference to Osiris. On the funerary mask, we see that some Amarna conventions, such as full lips and a thin nose still remain from the brief period. The entire sarcophagus is covered with hieroglyphic inscriptions, colored glass, and other precious stones, illustrating the importance of a luxurious and exorbitant afterlife.


 * Books of the Dead:**

During the New Kingdom, religious beliefs surfaced outlining a final judgment that determined acceptance into the afterlife. To pass this judgment, some embalmed bodies were wrapped with magical documents called the books of the dead. These books, using lavish and vibrant illustration, described the process of judgment, and recounts stories of other’s posthumous adventures. They depicted the Egyptian gods Anubis, Osiris, and Isis in rich color, along with sets of hieroglyphics describing thescenes. Classical Egyptian conventions seen in the previous relief sculptures predominate in these books, highlighting the 3000-year period of uniform artistic style.

Pictures > [] > [] > [] > [] Information
 * Sources:**
 * [|http://cache2.allpostersimages.com/p/LRG/58/5859/X2WSG00Z/posters/nolan-clive-great-hypostyle-hall-at-karnak-temple-egypt.jp]g
 * Stokstad, Marilyn, Marion Spears. Grayson, and Stephen Addiss. "Ancient Egyptian Art." //Art History//. 3rd ed. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1995. Print.