MT1 Week3 Egypt Flashcards
(77 cards)
1
Q
Gift of the Nile
A
Ancient Egypt developed in the Nile river floodplain
- The Nile is the longest river in the world (6600 km)
- The Nile has two major tributaries: the Blue Nile (Lake Tana, Ethiopian highlands) and the White Nile (Lake Victoria) and river flows north to its Delta on the Mediterranean Sea)
- Annual floods provide rich alluvium each year
- Floods were more predictable than in Mesopotamia
2
Q
Geography
A
- Ancient Egypt is the first state of its size in history – a territorial state
- Long and narrow oasis surrounded by desert
- Isolated Egypt from tropical Africa and Near East although it traded for gold, ivory, semi-precious stone, timber from Levant and tropical Africa
- Travel along the Nile by boat is ancient (earliest image of boat that resembles pre-dynastic boats is carved onto a pebble in a securely dated site ~7000 BC (near Khartoum)
3
Q
The Red Land and the Black Land
A
Ancient Egyptians called their land “Kemet” (black land) -- the black fertile soils of the floodplain
•“Deshret” (red land) is the dry desert sands
4
Q
2 geopolitical areas
A
- Egypt is divided into 2 geopolitical areas:
- Lower Egypt is the Nile river delta (ta-mehu – land of the papyrus)
- Upper Egypt is the area south of the delta to Nubia (ta-shema –land of the shema reed)
- Unification of Upper and Lower Egypt is represented in the combined crowns
5
Q
2 geopolities represented by crowns
A
White domed crown of Upper Egypt
- Red curled crown of Lower Egypt
- Combined crown of Upper and Lower Egypt
6
Q
Ancient Egypt: Outline
A
- Neolithic/Chalcolithic or Pre-dynastic Period 5000-3100 BC
- Archaic or Early Dynastic Period 3100-2700 BC
- Dynastic Period: 2700-1070 BC
- Old Kingdom 2700-2140 BC
- First Intermediate 2140-2040 BC
- Middle Kingdom 2040-1640 BC
- Second Intermediate 1640-1550 BC
- New Kingdom 1550-1070 BC
- Third Intermediate /decline after 1100 BC
- Kingdoms – the state is under a centralized authority (the king or pharaoh) ruling from a capital city
- Intermediates – periods when power became decentralized and held by local authorities (nomarchs, local authorities)
7
Q
Pre-Dynastic: 5000-3100 BC
A
- About 5000 BC simple farming based in cattle and cereal farming develops (Near Eastern crops)
- Villages were located on the edge of the floodplain
- Planted crops as the flood receded or grazed their animals on the floodplain
- Harvested crops before the next flood
- These were copper using groups (possibly copper ore to make paint)
8
Q
Lower Egypt
A
- By 4000 BC there is evidence of social differences in burials with chiefs buried with a staff that is pointed at one end & flat at the other end
- Most people are buried in simple pit burials within settlements
- By 3500 BC large towns had their own gods and local rulers
- One of these communities is Buto (in suburb of Cairo)
- Maadian culture: traded with Upper Egypt, Levant, Mesopotamia and to some extent with Upper Egypt
9
Q
Upper Egypt (UE): 5000-3600 BC
A
- Earliest farming society in UE (Badarian culture) wheat, barley, lentils, cattle, goats, sheep, fish
- Developed in the Eastern & Western Desert
- Mainly known from burials – individuals buried in pits facing west in desert cemeteries with pots, beads, palettes
- Traded with Sinai and Eastern Desert
- Produced fine pottery called black topped red ware and faience (craft specialists)
- Earliest evidence of intentional mummification ~4300 BC from resins on linens
10
Q
Earliest evidence of embalming
A
- It has been assumed that most pre-dynastic mummification is natural
- New study of Naqada mummy c. 3700-3500 BC is the first direct evidence from an embalmed individual
- Recipe of plant oil, heated conifer resin, and both aromatic plant extract and plant gum/sugar that are antibacterial agents
- These recipes are similar to those used 2500 years later by Egyptian embalmers of the New Kingdom
- First direct evidence of pre-dynastic mummification (most of the mummies are not dated or chemically analyzed) but chemistry is similar to the Badarian period mummy wrappings!
11
Q
Developing complex technology: Egyptian Faience
A
- Faience is made of crushed quartz or sand crystals mixed with sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and copper oxides that produce blue, green, turquoise colour
- Faience paste was shaped in molds & fired in a kiln – calcium silicates in the paste produced a glassy surface
- Objects were also dipped into faience power or painted with a slurry of the paste, fired, & produced the glassy surface
- Possibly intended to imitate turquoise & other gems
- Earliest workshop Abydos 5500 BC
- Ancient Egyptians believed that the reflection of light off these pieces was the light of immortality
12
Q
Upper Egypt: urbanism
A
- 3 important cities form ~3600 BC
- Naqada
- Nekhen (Hierakonpolis)*
- This (Abydos)
- 5000-10,000 people living in mud-brick houses, elite houses, and there are specialized crafts
- Developed irrigation to increase food production
- Poor and rich burials indicate social inequality
- Some burials with symbols of power (mace heads)
- At this timethe material culture of Upper Egypt spreads into Lower Egypt and Maadi culture disappears
13
Q
Bearded Men
A
- new form of sculpture
- beard may be a symbol of power: precursor for false beards of Pharaohs
- e.g. males not identified with primary sexual characteristics but ones related to power
14
Q
Nekhen – city of the falcon deity
A
Nekhen was a prosperous center
- Main businesses were brewing beer and pottery-making
- Large beer brewing installations are estimated to have produced 1000 gallons or more of beer/day
- Pottery-making was also important: produced funerary ware and vessels for beer brewing and daily use
15
Q
Ceremonial complex
A
- Nekhen is the cradle of Egyptian kingship
- Cult of falcon deity - (early form of Horus), patron god of the city’s ruler
- Temple has mud-plastered oval that was surrounded by a mud-plastered reed fence
- There was a large sand mound (representing earth emerging from chaos) with a later mud-brick platform
- Rectangular buildings (shrines, workshops) were located on one side of the oval
- Post for the image of the falcon god (Nekhen)
- Earliest known temple in Egypt
- Separate cemeteries fo different classes and elite individuals
16
Q
Cemeteries: Working class burials
A
- Over 150 graves including women with resin soaked linens wrapped around their arms (early mummification)
- Fetal position facing east or west
- Body wrapped in reed mats and simple grave goods of pottery, palette, beads
17
Q
Elite burials
A
- Clay masks on a few elite burials
- Rich grave goods
- Recent burial (2014) with ivory figurine that has similar face to the masks
- Researchers believe this is the ruler associated with the zoo!
18
Q
Animal burials: the earliest zoo ~3600 BC
A
- Located on the edge of the elite cemetery
- Tombs of exotic animals buried whole (baboons, elephants, leopards, crocodiles, hippos, dogs, cats, auroch)
- Sacrifice wild animals to symbolize control of ruler over the chaos of nature
- Animals were powerful – often animal form taken by gods and early rulers
- Zoos demonstrate ruler’s wealth and power
- Zoos legitimize pharaohs up to the New Kingdom period
19
Q
Nekhen: tomb 100
A
- New cemetery at Nekhen
- first mud-brick sepulcher with painted walls ~3500-3200 BC
- Procession of ruler on boat (barque) carrying him to the afterlife
- Ruler surrounded by dangerous forces, images of him killing lions with royal mace
- Similar scenes and concepts in the Egyptian state: kings upheld order, justice, piety and defeated the forces of chaos
20
Q
King(s) Scorpion Dynasty 0
A
Mace head from cemetery at Nekhen with king wearing white domed crown of Upper Egypt and other regalia of later dynastic kingship
- Bull’s tail hangs from belt (symbol of king’s authority)
- Shepherd’s shemset (apron)
- Goat beard (possibly false)
- Carries tool to open irrigation canal
- Rosette (symbol of divinity)
- Scorpion (his name)
21
Q
This (Abydos) King Scorpion?
A
- Tomb U-J dated to 3250 BC
- brick lined tomb set up as a house for the King
- Name Scorpion inked on several jars
- Ivory tags attached to jars that came from far away places including 700 wine jars (NAA analysis shows pots from the Levant) (elaborate long-distance exchange networks)
- Earliest hieroglyphic writing 3200 BC but already a well-developed system
- Stamps in other tombs 3400 BC
22
Q
Unification: King Narmer (Menes) 3100 BC
A
- Many competing kings in Upper Egypt in period leading up to unification
- Hieroglyphic writing and irrigation were widespread practices
- Narmer Palette found at Nekhen (Hierakonpolis)
- commemorates unification of Egypt by King Narmer of This
- Narmer is shown wearing combined crown of Upper and Lower Egypt
23
Q
Role of the king
A
Early rulers come from Upper Egypt (Thinite dynasty)
- Kings were responsible for mediating between forces of order and chaos
- Concept of ma’at (order, justice, moral righteousness) vs Isfet(disorder)
- Creator god (Ra) instituted ma’at at the beginning of time and passed it down to each king
- King was earthly manifestation of the Creator god and returned to the Creator god after death
24
Q
Burial practices of Early Dynastic Kings
A
- Abydos remained sacred burial place of early dynastic kings
- Kings were buried in mastabas (low mud-brick structures)
- The burial chamber was cut beneath mud-brick structure that was entered by staircase
- Chapel in upper structure for offerings
- Queens and retainers were buried around the king in simple pit graves
- Earliest evidence of boat burials is at Abydos – moored with a stone
25
Human sacrifice
Human sacrifice ended about 2700 BC before the Early Dynastic period
* Human sacrifices likely were intended to serve king in afterlife
* Replaced by shabtis – figures who magically came to life in afterworld and served the dead ruler
* Made from different materials including stone , clay, faience & wood
26
Religious ideology
* Kings created cult centers to the gods to link themselves to all local deities (hundreds of gods)
* Forged a national religion represented in a standardized art style that lasts for 3000 years
* King identified with Horus and with sun god Ra (top deity)
* Ra sailed across the sky during the day in the day-barque
* Stepped onto night-barque at sunset to fight the forces of chaos
* Metaphor of the cyclical process of death and rebirth, and the flooding of the Nile
27
Afterlife: ba and ka
* Ba is person’s spirit that can leave the body, roam around, but still needs the body to return to
* Ka is the life force that needs to be nourished (e.g. at feasting tables painted in tombs)
* It was essential to preserve the body
* Initially afterlife only available to rulers and their entourage
28
Mummification increasingly refined
Increasing development of mummification over time
* Removed organs, dried body with salt (natron), perfumed body with resin/milk/incense and then wrapped in linen with protective amulets
* Specialist practice, process took up to 70 days
29
Pyramid Texts and the Book of the Dead
Based in early texts like the Pyramid Texts (some of the same spells)
* Collection of texts with magic spells that aid the deceased in traveling through the underworld
* Dangerous place with supernatural beasts
* Call out spell to make beasts disappear or book provided answers to riddles/questions that posed barriers along the route
30
Political organization
* Ancient Egypt was different from Mesopotamia
* Territorial state with many cities under a centralized authority
* State was divided into nomes (provinces), governed by nomarchs
* Nomarchs were local rulers
* In centralized state, nomarchs were appointed by the king (loyal local leaders or royal family members)
* Nomarchs received titles and estates and were wealthy
* Often hereditary position
31
Memphis
Capital set up by Early Dynastic kings
* Located at border between Upper and Lower Egypt
* King and his vizier lived here
* King ruled by his word and through (ma’at) but no written law code
* Society was a hierarchy of the minority (a leisure class), and then classes of priests, bureaucrats, scribes, artisans, farmers
32
The bureaucracy: “followers of Horus”
* “followers of Horus” ran the King’s household
* administered the King’s storehouses
* made decisions about running state (monumental building, taxes, trade)
* redistributed resources to loyal officials, rations to workers and bureaucrats
* Bureaucracy requires writing
* class of scribes important and high status
* Paper invented in Egypt
33
Egyptian writing & notation
Hieroglyphic writing deciphered by Champollion 1822 using Rosetta Stone
•2 Egyptian scripts:
•Hieroglyphics (sacred writing) reserved for monumental buildings and funerary use (combination of pictographs and phonetics
(represent language sounds)
•Demotic: cursive script used in everyday
•Parallel script in Greek
34
The Old Kingdom ~2700-2140 BC
* Third Dynasty kings ruled as sons of Ra-Horakhty (combination of Ra and Horus)
* Kingship legitimated by ideology that well-being of the people relied on a divine pharaoh who acted as the people’s intermediary to the gods
* Program of monumental building began
* Royal tombs shift from mud-brick mastabas to pyramids
* The first was built by Djoser
35
Increasing divinity of kings
* Old Kingdom kings were viewed as the sun god Ra’s representative on earth (Ra-Horakhty)
* Powerful priesthood emerges around the cult to the sun god Ra
* After death the king is assimilated with Ra
* Enormous effort of nation put into pyramid construction
36
Pyramid building: Saqqara
* 1st pyramid built at Saqqara on west bank of the Nile
* Pyramid is surrounded by stone wall enclosure with temples
* Constructed by King Djoser under supervision of Imhotep
* Pyramid is in 6 steps surrounded by several buildings and shrines
* Built entirely of stone to last for eternity
* First major stone building in antiquity
37
Smooth sided ‘true’ pyramids
* Sneferu (Snofru) built first true pyramid (but took 3 tries)
* One was stepped, one was ‘bent ‘and finally the Red Pyramid was perfect 43º
* The Red pyramid has an interior with a corbelled ceiling
* Encased in smooth limestone
* Topped with pyramidion capstone
* Symbolized mound that Ra stood on at time of creation
* Also represented rays of the sun – king would ascend on death to ride with Ra in afterworld on day and night barques
38
Giza Plateau
* Khufu builds Great Pyramid on Giza plateau (near Cairo)
* Smooth-sided pyramids with limestone blocks with paved causeways linked to mortuary temples
* Khafre builds the middle pyramid with the Sphinx guarding his mortuary temple
* Menkaure builds the last and smallest pyramid using red granite (quality over quantity?)
39
Sphinx: first monumental sculpture
* Khafre’s head is depicted on the sphinx
* Khafre is reborn as the sun god guarding the necropolis of the kings
* Kings lived forever and influenced the living world and that of the gods
40
Construction
Huge stone blocks cut with stone, bronze and copper tools
* Transported by boats, rollers, sledges
* 5000 full-time workers and 20,000 temporary workers 3-4 months / year
* worker community with bakeries to feed the workers (ration of bread dough, onions, beer)
* Long-term projects integrated people into state, dependent on work
41
First Intermediate:~ 2140-2040 BC
* centralized authority broke down and power shifted to local nomarchs
* Why this occurred: after Pepi II weak rulers and/or widespread
* Now considered to be a period of social reorganization & some warfare
42
First Intermediate changes
* In Old Kingdom only king and elite could afford the afterlife (mummification, tombs)
* As more people were wealthy they began to demand privileges that Old Kingdom reserved for the elite
•nature of Egyptian society was sustained (religion, hierarchy) -vibrant culture of ordinary people continued so not a break-down
of Egyptian society
43
The Middle Kingdom 2040-1640 BC
* Mentuhotep II from Upper Egypt reunites Egypt
* Moves capital to Thebes but later his successor moved the capital to Lisht near Memphis
* Middle Kingdom is Egypt’s “Classical Age”
* Greatest literature and art from this period (Old kingdom texts about religion, texts on tombs, monuments)
* Peaceful period of monumental building (irrigation, temples to Amun)
44
Amun-Ra
* Shift in cult of sun god from Ra to Amun-Ra
* Combines Amun (southern counterpart to Ra) with Ra
* Depicted wearing a headdress with 2 tall plumes
* King more approachable – presented as shepherd of his people
45
Cult of Osiris from Abydos
MK democratization of religion: now everyone has a chance at the afterlife
* Osiris is god and judge of the dead and pharaoh now assimilated with Osiris after death
* Anyone can go into the afterlife if they can account for their deeds on earth
* Also a metaphor for life and resurrection in the floods of the Nile
46
Story of Osiris
Osiris: Isis Seth: Nepthis
* Brother/sister teams also husband/wife teams for deities (and for pharaohs)
* Osiris leaves Egypt to bring civilization to the world
* Brother Seth builds a coffin, when Osiris returns Seth tricks Osiris to try on the coffin and Seth seals him inside!
* Seth throws the coffin into Nile and it floats to Lebanon!
* Isis must get Osiris’ body back for burial but Seth finds body first, cuts it into pieces & throws bits around Egypt
* Isis finds everything except Osiris’ phallus – she makes a false one
* Isis turns herself into a bird, hovers over Osiris saying magic words and conceives Horus
* Osiris is reincarnated as god of the dead
* Horus avenges his father by killing his uncle Seth
The story is a metaphor of the Nile and the relationship of Nile with kingship
* Osiris is the Nile, Seth the hot desert wind
* Osiris is dead when the river is dry
* Isis finds his body on the start of the annual flood
* Osiris fertilizes Isis bringing forth new life in Horus just as Nile brings new life to Egypt
* Osiris is the Nile, Isis is the Earth
* Pharaoh is manifestation of Osiris – giver of life
47
Funerary objects: mass consumption and national adoption of elite culture
* More people had wealth and wanted to go to the afterlife
* Mass production of cheaper objects for funerary use
* Modeled on Old Kingdom elite objects
* increased demand for goods – massive expansion of trade
48
Second Intermediate 1640-1550 BC
| The Hyksos!
Not clear why MK declines
* Second intermediate marked by rise of the Hyksos in Lower Egypt and Theban rulers in Upper Egypt
* End of MK large number of Asiatics living in Egypt
* Cooks, brewers, artisans, winemakers from Syria
* Cosmopolitan society
* Merchants moving caravans of goods by donkey from Levant to Lower Egypt
49
Hyksos Pharaohs
Hyksos gain political control of Lower Egypt with capital at Avaris
* Archaeologists have found friezes painted by Minoan artists of bull-leaping scenes in the palace
* Hyksos respected Egyptian traditions and took on the titles, traditions, religious beliefs of the pharaohs
* Also brought innovations to Egypt: bronze technology, improved weaponry, horse drawn war chariot
* Drew Egypt into ‘global economy
50
The New Kingdom 1550-1070 BC
* Period of Imperial Egypt
* Upper Egyptian kings at Thebes were enemies of Hyksos and their allies, especially the Nubians at Kerma
* Ahmose I attacked the Hyksos and drove them back to Syria
* Ahmose reunites Egypt & founds the 18th dynasty
* He was a skilled general and turns Egypt into an empire
* He also set a new tone: pharaoh as military hero, tolerated no rivals, gave soldiers grants of land, kept power and wealth in his own hands
51
New Kingdom Empire
Major world player
* Main rivals: Hatti the kingdom of the Hittites in Anatolia and Mitanni east of the Euphrates
* At stake: control of Eastern Mediterranean trade in gold, copper, pottery, wine, oil & resin
* Financed empire with Nubian gold – defeated Kush and made it into a colony
* Expanded Red Sea trade routes to ‘Land of Punt’
52
New Kingdom Dynasties 18-20
* Period of great prosperity & Egypt extends its empire to parts of Nubia, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine
* Irrigation is improved with the invention of the shaduf & saqiya
* Population increased
* At this time pharaohs married sisters and close relatives to consolidate power within royal lines
* Many famous 18th dynasty pharaohs
* Know more about these pharaohs than those of any other period
53
New Kingdom
| Society
* Society highly stratified
* Pharaoh at top and aloof from people
* Below him the aristocracy & nobles
* Educated and professional classes
* Then workers, craftsmen, soldiers
* Below them the farmers
* Bottom: unskilled labourers
* There were separate administrations for conquered lands
54
New Institutions: Estate of Amun
Thebes was home to the cult of Amun-Ra and was referred to as the Estate of Amun
* Temple of Amun built at Karnak in 18th dynasty
* Karnak represents an architectural shift
* Previously kings built monuments on edge of western desert
* Local temples were of mud-brick
* In New Kingdom religion became public spectacle – required new architecture (Annual Opet festival)
55
Amun-Re
* King of the gods
* Solar deity represented in human form
* Source of fecundity
* Divine father of kings in life and death
* Festivals were performed to show people that the king and the temple were ensuring proper rule (keeping the forces of chaos and order in balance)
* Eventually power shifted to the priesthood
56
Temples of Amun
* Surrounded by mud-brick walls painted white to keep out the populace
* Great pylons at front entrance with scenes of kings conquering enemies while gods look-on
* Place to nurture gods with food offerings from the temple estates
* Temple estates were farmed by smallholders who paid rent in produce
* Temples also had cattle, mineral rights, enormous grain storage facilities
* Large temples, especially of Amun, became extremely rich and powerful in New Kingdom
57
God’s wife of Amun
* Begins with 18th dynasty
* Usually taken by the pharaoh’s wife/sister (selected her own successor)
* Privileges normally reserved for pharaoh: throne name, name in cartouche
* Had own estates, property, staff, administrators
* Performed rituals at temple of Amun in Thebes as god’s wife (50 thousand priests in Thebes)
* Wealth and power
* monument builders in their own right
58
Valley of the Kings
* “Estate of Amun” extends to the western bank of the Nile
* Beginning of 18th dynasty Pharaoh Amenhotep (~1505 BC) decided to be buried in secret rock-cut tombs in the Valley of the Kings
* Also Valley of the Queens nearby and tombs of princes and court officials
59
The workers village at Deir-el-Medina
* Generations of a large number of workers, artisans lived in this community (18th dynasty to Ramesside period 500 years)
* Records indicate many strikes, poor rations, harsh conditions
* Top artisans were “Servitors of the Place of Truth” and they built their tombs similar to those of the kings
* Painted walls, topped with small pyramids
60
Hatshepsut
* 18th Dynasty Pharaoh and daughter of Thutmoses I
* Married to Thutmoses II but he dies 3 years into the marriage
* Thutmoses II had a daughter with Hatshepsut (Neferure) and a son with another wife (Thutmoses III)
* Hatshepsut is Thutmoses III’s co-regent
* 5th year of reign she crowns herself king
* removed Thutmose III as co-regent
* In essence, she is king
* Great builder
* She is presented in statuary and imagery in full pharaoh regalia Monument builder at Karnak (she had held position as God’s wife of Amun)
* Replaces courtiers with those loyal to her
20 year reign was peaceful and prosperous
* Brings in luxury goods from Near East, Eastern desert, Nubia via Red Sea fleet and overland transport
* Current evidence indicates that she had diabetes and bone cancer when she died at ~50 years of age
* Mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri
* When Thutmose III takes the throne researchers have argued that he aggressively wiped her from history (chips out name from monuments, defaces her image)
* Does not explain why he remained as co-regent for 20 years, head of army and did not overthrow her
* Possibly defacing occurred when transfer of power to his son Amenhotep II who was not clear successor over Hatshepsut’s relatives!
61
Expedition to Punt
Journey to Punt recorded at Deir el-Bahri (1493 BC)
* Punt fabled land for gold, ebony, wild animals, ivory, leopard skins, live apes, incense (especially myrrh), aromatic gum
* Expedition led by Senenmut, consort of Hatshepsut
* Transplanted frankincense trees in Egypt
* Relations of Egyptians and Puntites was mutual and respectful
62
Thutmose III
greatest ruler of New Kingdom
* “Napoleon” of ancient Egypt
* 18th dynasty domination of Southwest Asia
* taxed Assyria, Anatolia, Babylonia
* Traded with Nubia, Aegean, Crete, Phoenicia
* Also great builder of temples and monuments
* Artisans began making glass vessels
63
Political Context of New Kingdom
* Mitanni and Hittites were the other major powers
* Thutmose is considered military genius
* 17 campaigns in 20 years – conquered 350 cities and controlled most of Near East from Euphrates to Nubia
* Received tribute from all princes of Syria,
* One of his policies of colonization was to take sons of conquered rulers as hostages
64
Amenhotep III
* strong pharaoh Amenhotep III & maintained a strong empire
* Wife was Tiye
* Inherited very rich Empire and indebted other rulers with gifts of gold
* Major monument builder
* Mortuary temple is gone with exception of the colossi of Memnon that stood at the front
* Left his son Akhenaten a rich and powerful empire
65
Akhenaten: Amarna period
Akhenaten (1353-1347 BC) married sister Nefertiti
* Originally coronated at Karnak by priests of Amun
* Fifth year of his reign he moves to break the power of the priests of Amun and makes the cult of the sun god Aten the state religion
* Declares himself and Nefertiti to be gods
* Moves capital to Amarna in Middle Egypt
* Policy to remove mention of Amun from monuments of Egypt
66
New style
Amarna built with new architectural style that emphasized light –the essence of Aten
* Surrounded by community of 20000 people in 2 housing areas to north and south of city
* Developed new art style and royal family portrayed holding children on their laps
* Elongated heads and limbs
67
Cult of Aten
* quasi-monotheistic
* Only way to afterlife is through loyalty to Akhenaten and through his teachings
* Closed Temples of Amun and diverted money to Temples of Aten (required military to do this)
* Worship of old gods banned, temples of Isis and Osiris destroyed
* Cult of Aten had almost no impact beyond royal family – no regular access to new cult
68
Kings and sun gods
* Sun god and king are foundation of Egyptian religion
* Daily activities at temples ensure sun-god’s daily journey through the heavens
* Maintains cosmic order
* people expected to see ruler in pageants (made king’s role as a god real)
* Also relied on temple of Amun for food in bad harvests, temples were a major employer
* Amarna period – 20 years that broke down the relationship between religion and state
69
Akhenaten’s politics
Religious concerns took his attention
* Ignored foreign policy and requests of allies for help including King of Byblos who sent over 50 letters and was conquered by enemies
* Lost control of Near Eastern conquests
70
Tutankhamun 1333-1323 BC
* Son of Akhenaten
* Died at young age (about 20)
* His advisors had him reinstate the cult of Amun, restored temples
* Abandoned Amarna and lived in Thebes and Memphis
* Empire crumbled: Hittites defeated the Mitanni (Egyptian allies) and lost other vassals
* Left no heirs – power usurped by Ay (vizier) and then to Hornenhab (general)
71
Ramesside pharaohs 19th dynasty
Ramesses II (the Great) Tried to restore Egypt’s former glory by defeating the Hittites
* Not from a royal lineage (military)
* Used Nubian gold to rebuild empire
* Ramesses II built on huge scale: Abu Simbel
72
Battle of Kadesh
Kadesh - city in Syria, hub of trade held by Hittites
* Ramesses II vs King Muwatalli II (Hittite Empire) ~1274 BC
* Best documented battle of Near East in ancient times
* Both kings claimed victory! Probably a draw
* Ramesses led his division too quickly into battle and became isolated in face of Hittite army
* Egyptians claimed that Ramesses led a heroic battle until the rest of his army arrived
* Egyptians were caught between the river and Hittite forces
* for unknown reasons the Muwatalli did not deploy his reserve forces and allowed his best force to be slaughtered by the Egyptians
* Result was first bilateral peace treaty (first true peace treaty)
* But both great states were diminished – neither conquered the other
73
Abu Simbel
Ramesses claimed to have won the Battle of Kadesh
* Written on walls of Abu Simbel that stood on border with Nubia
* Propaganda – warning to the Kushites of Egypt’s power
74
Decline of Egypt after 1000 BC
* Egypt had been a successful provider state
* Massive intervention in the agricultural economy
* Huge storage of grain to allocate to workers and to people in hard times
* This unraveled in 18th dynasty and with weak rulers after Ramesses II
~1200 BC the great Hittite empire falls apart
* Power shifts in eastern Mediterranean
* Egypt retreated from Nubia & battling Libyans and ’Sea People’
* Bureaucracy became corrupt
* Tomb robbers broke into tombs in Valley of Kings and Queens (detailed descriptions of the looting in court ~1200 BC)
* Priests of Amun accumulate vast amounts of land and wealth in this period of decline
75
Third Intermediate 1069- 653 BC
Libyans gradually took control of Delta
* Priests of Amun controlled Upper Egypt
* Neo-Assyrians increasingly powerful in the Near East
* Nubian kings of Kush under Piankhy invade Egypt in 727 BC and take control of Upper and Lower Egypt forming the 25th dynasty
76
25th dynasty: the Kushite Pharaohs
Egyptian renaissance
* Expanded empire again
* Kushite rulers renowned for piety to Amun
* Restored religion, art and architecture of Dynastic Egypt
* Pharaoh Taharka helps the King of Jerusalem stop the Assyrians but eventually chased back to Nubia by Assyrian
* Assyria took control of Egypt
77
Late Period 672-332 BC
* Saite kings (vassals to the Assyrians)
* Invaded by Babylonians 567 BC
* Persians invade in 525 BC
* Greeks 332 BC under Alexander the Great (Ptolemaic rulers)
