EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE

A world wide famous structure is the pyramid, that are probably the world's best architectual achievement even though they were built many centuries ago. These structures can be as tall as 147m high. Saqqara is the place where the first pyramid was built for the king Zoser, and it was called a step pyramid because of it's step-like shape. The pyramids that where later built were smooth sided; an example being the Great Pyramid at Giza which was built for King Khufu around 4500 years ago. Before the pyramid, the kings used to be berried in tombs. The tomb structure was normally composed of two different parts; the chapel and the crypt. A false door was accommodated by highly decorated walls of the funerary chapel. This symbolized linking the dead with those who were alive and there used to be a carved image of the owner of the tomb. The halls led to many smaller rooms that housed the deceased's furniture, offerings, victuals and sacred text. Egypt is scattered with large brown columns that are structures made of granite, all with hieroglyphics on them for Temples. A lot of stone figures can also be seen throughout Egypt. These figures might look like a king, a tiger, an eagle or even a mixture of both. The best known stone figure is probably the Sphinx that has the body of a lion and a head of a king wearing a striped head cloth.

 

The Step Pyramid at Saqqara in Egypt.

The Great Pyramid of Giza.

The Tomb of Sennefer on the West Bank at Luxor.

References:

Egyptian Architecture . 2013. Egyptian Architecture . [ONLINE] Available at:http://library.thinkquest.org/10098/egypt.htm. [Accessed 15 May 2013].

At the Step Pyramid. 2013. At the Step Pyramid. [ONLINE] Available at:http://aghill.fatcow.com/CRI/step.html. [Accessed 15 May 2013].

The Great Pyramid of Giza | OpenBuildings. 2013. The Great Pyramid of Giza | OpenBuildings. [ONLINE] Available at: http://openbuildings.com/buildings/the-great-pyramid-of-giza-profile-1161. [Accessed 15 May 2013].

Egyptian Stories (Myth-Folklore Online). 2013. Egyptian Stories (Myth-Folklore Online). [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.mythfolklore.net/3043mythfolklore/reading/egypt/images/tomb.htm. [Accessed 15 May 2013].