The Pyramids of GizaThe Pyramids of Giza

•The pyramids of Giza are The pyramids of Giza are one of the Seven Wonders one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.of the Ancient World.•*Located in the valley of *Located in the valley of Giza in Egypt, Africa.Giza in Egypt, Africa. *The largest pyramids are *The largest pyramids are tombs for Khufu, Kafhre tombs for Khufu, Kafhre and of Menkaura, three and of Menkaura, three great kings of the Old great kings of the Old Kingdom.Kingdom.

*These pyramids were built *These pyramids were built over 4500 years ago by over 4500 years ago by hundreds of workers over hundreds of workers over decades of time.decades of time.They were made of They were made of thousands of two ton rocks thousands of two ton rocks and covered with and covered with limestone.limestone.

The smaller structures are The smaller structures are “queens” pyramids.“queens” pyramids.

There is a maze of pathways and chambers There is a maze of pathways and chambers inside the pyramids.inside the pyramids.

THE GREAT SPHINXTHE GREAT SPHINX

*The Great Sphinx is a *The Great Sphinx is a zoomorphic (animal- like) zoomorphic (animal- like) mythological figure which mythological figure which is depicted as a relaxed is depicted as a relaxed lion with a human head. lion with a human head.

*Sphinx means to strangle. *Sphinx means to strangle. The lioness strangles her The lioness strangles her

prey to kill it.prey to kill it.

Hieroglyphics: Egyptian writing , symbols written in Hieroglyphics: Egyptian writing , symbols written in rows or columns that can be read from left to right or rows or columns that can be read from left to right or

from right to left depending on the direction of the first from right to left depending on the direction of the first figure.figure.

These symbols were carefully drawn by priests on temple These symbols were carefully drawn by priests on temple walls to help guide the dead pharaohs in the after life.walls to help guide the dead pharaohs in the after life.

“Daughters of Akhenaton,” fragment of a wall painting from a small residential building of Akhetaton, Tell el-Amarna, New Kingdom.

Traditional Official Pose The traditional official pose shows

the head in profile with the whole figure (two shoulders, two feet) standing in a tall formal stance. The Pharaohs demanded that the artists drew the king figures like this so that the soul had a complete body to travel in during the afterlife.

• Pharaoh Akhenaton reigned for a short but successful period and changed the artist’s restrictions on the human form. As you can see here, he had his daughters painted in relaxed poses and overlapped limbs.

King Mycerinus and King Mycerinus and WifeWife

These figures are in These figures are in the traditional the traditional official pose. The official pose. The King and Queen are King and Queen are carved in-the-round carved in-the-round but not free-but not free-standing; they are standing; they are supported by the supported by the slate inbetween slate inbetween them. them.

These figures would These figures would have been painted have been painted with brilliant with brilliant colours.colours.

King King TutankhamunTutankhamun King Tut’sKing Tut’s Tomb was one of the Tomb was one of the

few burial chambers that was few burial chambers that was found untouched by grave found untouched by grave robbers. All of its contents of robbers. All of its contents of valuable gold, jewels, and art valuable gold, jewels, and art were found intact. Unfortunately, were found intact. Unfortunately, all of the archeologists died soon all of the archeologists died soon after the find. It was the curse of after the find. It was the curse of the mummy, or so the story goes. the mummy, or so the story goes. Scientists claim that the air was Scientists claim that the air was contaminated and they died as a contaminated and they died as a result.result.

This is King Tut’s Funerary Mask This is King Tut’s Funerary Mask and Sarcophagus. These are solid and Sarcophagus. These are solid gold encrusted with gemstones gold encrusted with gemstones and jewelsand jewels