Architecture: Egyptian Architecture

The Egyptian Architecture period was from 3000 to 30 B.C. Since religion was a very important aspect of the Ancient Egyptian time, most structures had religious symbols, such as scarabs. Another key aspect of Egyptian architecture was the thick sloping walls, and the small doors and windows. Egyptian structures had these thick sloping walls for balance, and larger opening were just not possible with buildings made of stone. A common method for construction was the post and lintel, which was simply laying one object horizontally across two other vertical objects. The main materials used in Egyptian architecture were mud-brick, and stone (usually limestone). The Nile River and hot Egypt weather was of much convenience when making mud–bricks; because the mud was taken from the river, and then baked in the sun. This process was also used in the construction of houses, but the mud would be placed in molds and left out to dry. The walls of buildings, also columns and piers, were heavily decorated with hieroglyphics and frescoes, popularly in bright colors. A hieroglyph could either tell a story, or tell of historical events. In Ancient Egypt tombs and temples would be made from the stone; whereas, other buildings such as fortresses and palaces, were made from the mud-bricks. Two of the more famous Egyptian structures are the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the Great Sphinx of Giza, but the most known Egyptian structures are all pyramids in general. Pyramids were made from big blocks of stone, which were placed in precise positions, and carried to their position by men using ramps, when it’s needed to be higher up on the pyramid. Like other Egyptians structures, hieroglyphics were in pyramids. Some Egyptian structures still standing today include the fortresses at Buhen, and the village Deir al-Madinah.