Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt
Perspective view of the colored interior of the western temple in Thebes, Egypt. Illustration crated in 1809, from the 2nd volume of Description de l'Egypte
Decade of origin	3150 BC─30 BC
Key motifs	Pyramids, mummies, sand, gold, tomb artwork, winged solar disc
Key colours	Gold, white, ivory, brown, black, blue, red
Related aesthetics	Ancient Greece Art Deco Hyperborean

Ancient Egypt was a historical civilization in Northern Africa that lasted from 3150 BC to 30 BC. The boundaries of the period are set by the beginning of the dynastic monarchs (pharaohs) who ruled Egypt and Rome's conquest of Egypt.

The aesthetics of Ancient Egypt have influenced art and design for thousands of years. In recent centuries it was most prominent during the Victorian Era through the Egyptian Revival style in design and architecture, due to early archeology in Egypt. In the 1920s, after Howard Carter and his team opened the tomb of King Tutankhamun (King Tut), Egyptian art influenced the Art Deco movement, causing an 'Egyptomania'.

History

Major Historical Figures

• Menes
• Ramesses II
• Hatshepsut
• Nefertiti
• Amenhotep III
• King Tutankhamun
• Cleopatra VII (usually referred to in popular culture simply as Cleopatra)

Visuals

• Hieroglyphs
• Cobras (aka uraeus)
• Winged sun disks
• Gold jewelry
• Diamonds and jewels
• Thick, heavy eyeliner (kohl)
• Pyramids
• Temple pylon gates
• Mummies
• Camels
• Sand
• Palm trees
• Papyrus reeds
• Egyptian hieroglyphics
• Ushabti
• Blue scarabs
• Cats, especially black ones
• Nefertiti headdress
• Cleopatra hairstyle (shoulder length straight black hair with thick bangs)

Perspective view of the colored interior of the western temple in Thebes, Egypt. Illustration crated in 1809, from the 2nd volume of Description de l'Egypt

The "weighing of the heart," from the book of the dead of Hunefer

The god Aker, believed to guard the eastern and western horizons where the sun god Ra leaves and re-enters the underworld

Mask of Tutankhamun, c. 1327 BC, gold, glass and semi-precious stones

Pyramid of Djoser, Saqqara, Egypt, 2667–2648 BC, by Imhotep

Great Pyramid of Giza, Giza, Egypt, c.2589-2566 BC, by Hemiunu

Lintel of Amenemhat I and deities, 1981–1952 BC, painted limestone

Jewelry chest of Sithathoryunet, 1887–1813 BC, ebony, ivory, gold, carnelian, blue faience and silver

Inlaid box for cosmetic vessels of Sithathoryunet, 1887–1813 BC, ebony, inlaid with ivory and red wood (restored) and gold trim

Kneeling portrait statue of Amenemhat holding a stele with an inscription, c.1500 BC, painted limestone

Head of Amenhotep III, 1390–1352 BC, quartzite

Nebamun Hunting in the Marshes, c.1380 BC, paint on plaster

Nefertiti Bust, 1352–1336 BC, painted limestone

Akhenaten and Nefertiti with Daughters, c.1345 BC, painted limestone

Hypostyle Hall of the Karnak Temple Complex, Luxor, Egypt, c.1294–1213 BC, unknown architect

Great Temple of Abu Simbel, Egypt, c.1264 BC. unknown architect

Temple of Philae (Egypt), 380 BC–117 AD, unknown architect

Falcon box with wrapped contents, 332–30 BC, painted and gilded wood, linen, resin and feathers

Statuette of Anubis, 332–30 BC, plastered and painted wood

Illustration from 1874 of ornaments and patterns used by ancient Egyptians. Yes, all Ancient Egyptian buildings were not bare yellow stone. They were actually really colourful, as it is shown here

Ancient Egypt mood board

Ancient Egypt mood board

Perspective view of the colored interior of the western temple in Thebes, Egypt. Illustration crated in 1809, from the 2nd volume of Description de l'Egypte

Revivals and later influence

There were revivals of the aesthetic of Ancient Egypt during the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. Architecture and objects in this style are called "Neo-Egyptian" or "Egyptian Revival". The style was popular mainly at the beginning of the 19th century, due to Napoleon Bonaparte's attempt to conquer Egypt, which led to an international Egyptomania. During this period, Neoclassicism (a movement that tries to revive Greco-Roman art), more specifically the Empire style, was the mainstream aesthetic. Because of this, some mixes of Neoclassicism and Egyptian Revival were created. An example of an Egyptian Revival structure is the Egyptian entrance of the Hôtel Beauharnais in Paris, circa 1804, L.E.N. Bataille. Later in the 19th century, some Academic artists made history paintings with scenes from Ancient Egypt, like The Egyptian Widow from 1872 by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, or Cleopatra Testing Poisons on Condemned Prisoners from 1887 by Alexandre Cabanel.

The style had another wave or popularity in the 1920s, thanks to the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamen, opened in November 1922. Because of this, there are some examples of 1920s and 1930s Art Deco mixed with Neo-Egyptian motifs. The aesthetic of Ancient Egypt mixed well with Art Deco due to the fact that both use simplified motifs, geometric shapes, symmetry and repetition. The combinations of intense colours found in Ancient Egyptian jewellery were reused in the 1920s.

Mural decoration for the Caffè degli Inglesi, Piazza di Spagna, Rome, by Giovanni Battista Piranesi, 1769, etching

Entrance of the Hôtel Beauharnais, Paris, c.1804, L.E.N. Bataille

Mix of Neo-Egyptian and Neoclassicism - Set of three bowls with pedestals, produced by the Dagoty factory, c.1805-1810, porcelain

Clock with stand and keys, by Vulliamy & Son, 1807-1808, black marble with bronze dial and mounts

Pair of urns inspired by Ancient Egyptian canopy vessels, 1820, gilt and patinated bronze, and alabaster

"Égyptien Champollion" vase, by François-Hubert Barbin and Jean-Charles Develly, 1832, porcelain

Egypt Corner of the Northwood House, Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK, by George J.J. Mair, c.1836-1837

Temple of Edfu at the Exposition Universelle of 1867, Paris, unknown architect, 1867

Table, c.1868-1870, painted and partially gilt wood with marble top

The Egyptian Widow, by Lawrence Alma-Tadema, 1872, oil on panel

Candelabrum, by Ferdinand Berbedienne, c.1875, bronze

Mix of Neo-Egyptian and Art Deco - Le Louxor Cinema, Paris, 1919-1921, by Henri Zipcy

Mix of Neo-Egyptian and Art Deco - Egyptian Clock, by Coüet, for Cartier, 1927, gold, silver gilt, mother-of-pearl, lapis lazuli, coral, emerald, cornelian, polychrome and white enamel

Mix of Neo-Egyptian and Art Deco - Egyptian Theatre, De Kalb, Illinois, USA, by Elmer F. Behrns, 1929-1930

Mix of Neo-Egyptian and Art Deco - Elevator door in the Chrysler Building, New York City, by William van Alen, 1929-1930, Japanese ash, American walnut and brass

Dress, designed by Yves Saint Laurent, worn by Shiraz Tal, Autumn-Winter 1998-1999, photo by Guy Marineau

Screenshot from Katy Perry's Dark Horse music video, 2013

Screenshot of the Pyramid Peril level in Cuphead, various artists, c.2017

Thrasher logo version on a T-shirt inspired by Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, unknown designer, c.2010s, print of textile

Cruzade Skateboards Conspiracy Ra deck, unknown illustrator, circa 2018, printed digital illustration

Media

Ancient Egypt is a popular setting for fantasy films, especially those involving time travel and magic. Supernatural and horror movies make use of the "Mummy's Curse" trope.

Literature

• Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
• Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley
• The Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan
• Egyptian series by Wilbur Smith
• Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

Film

• Cleopatra (1934)
• The Egyptian (1954)
• Land of the Pharaohs (1955)
• Cleopatra (1963)
• The Prince of Egypt (1998)
• The Mummy (1999)
• Princess of the Sun (2007)
• Treasure Buddies (2012)
• Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014)
• Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)
• Gods of Egypt (2016)
• The Scorpion King (Film series/spin-off of The Mummy) (2002-present)
• Night at the Museum series (2006-2023)
• Mummies (2023)

Television

• The Cleopatras (1983)
• Cleopatra (1999)
• Ancient Egyptians (2003-2004)
• Oh, Suddenly Egyptian God (2020)
• Egyxos (2014)
• Tut (2015)
• Moon Knight (2022)
• The Mummy: The Animated Series (2001-2003)

Video Games

• Assassin's Creed Origins (2017)
• Animal Crossing series (2001-present)

Fictional Characters

• Ankha from Animal Crossing
• Lucky from Animal Crossing
• Cleo de Nile from Monster High
• Nefera de Nile from Monster High
• Seth Ptolemy from Monster High
• Imhotep from The Mummy
• Hawkman and Hawkgirl from DC Comics

Music

Artists

• Solferino & Ibis Babe'
• Maya Theravada
• Derek Fiechter and Brandon Fiechter

Albums

• Ancient Egypt by Derek Fiechter and Brandon Fiechter
• Ancient Egypt II by Derek Fiechter and Brandon Fiechter
• Desert Dreams by Derek Fiechter and Brandon Fiechter
• Redemption by Celestial Aeon Project
• Music of Egypt & Arabia by Maya Theravada
• As Bright as a Thousand Suns by Arcana
• The Mummy - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by Jerry Goldsmith

Songs

• Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles
• Camel by Camel by Sandy Marton
• Ankh by Solferino & Ibis Babe'
• Pharaoh's Dreams by Maya Theravada
• Desert Village by Celestial Aeon Project
• Abyddos by Ani Williams
• Momia by World Music Official
• Dark Horse (ft. Juicy J) by Katy Perry
• Powerslave by Iron Maiden
• Princess of Egypt by E-Type
• Living on the Ceiling - Blancmange
• Nefertiti by Two Big Boys

Resources

External links to help get a better understanding of this aesthetic.

• Ancient Egypt on Wikipedia
• The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Stores

• MuseumReproductions
• HistoryDefined

Playlists

• Ancient Egyptian Music by Oscar Lindström | Spotify
• ANCIENT EGYPTIAN MUSIC by ERADIEL | Spotify
• ancient egypt vibes by Roksa | Spotify
• Ancient Egyptian Music - Tomb of the Ancients by Fantasy & World Music by the Fiechters | YouTube
• Ancient Egyptian Music by steven white | YouTube

Pinterest Boards

• Kemetism (Ancient Egypt) by Riley
• Ancient Egypt by محمد الوزان
• Ancient Egypt by Janice, Lyssa Jones and Stephen Woodcock
• Ancient egypt by Wa Laa
• Aesthetic: Ancient Egypt by Kiki
• Architecture of Ancient EGYPT by theHegab
• Ancient Egypt Art by Bobbie-jo Best and Private Sparkz
• Ancient Egypt by Maggie.M