A TIMELINE OF ANCIENT EGYPT GISELLE MELENDRES DR. SAUVAGE CLAR 3370-01
contents
004 paleolithic
028 middle kingdom
008 neolithic
032 second intermediate period
012 predynastic 016 early dynastic 020 old kingdom 024 first intermediate period
036 new kingdom 040 third intermediate period 044 late period
PALE OLIT HIC Paleolithic, meaning “Old Stone Age� was a period that is said to be as early as 700,000 years ago, where hunter-gatherers inhabited Ancient Egypt in small camps of migratory groups. This period is the earliest period in Egypt, where settlers used raw materials and hunting, fishing, and gathering methods. The Paleolithic period is made up of Lower Paleolithic, Middle Paleolithic, and Upper Paleolithic.
During the Middle Paleolithic Period sm tools became popular where Egyptians w create flakes of stone by striking and sha them. These tools were often found in th Valley, where these tools gave people the hunt and capture larger animals for food flakes were made through the Levallois m where a core was specially prepared to b and formed into a flake.
levallois flake tools 250,000 to 220,000 ago B.C.
PALEO Another example of a stone tool found in the Paleolithic period is a Late Predynastic ripple-flaked knife that was produced by pressure flaking. There was specific uses of stone tools for different productions or needs, and the analysis of edge wear and material can help archaeologists determine what the tools were used for. For example, someone may use a stone tool for cutting or punching.
Flint Ripple ca 3500-
mall flakewould arpening he Nile e ability to d. Levallois method, be struck
LITHIC
Flaked Knife -3000 B.C.
lower paleolithic hand-axe ca 300,000 B.C. The Lower Paleolithic period consisted of large pear shaped or oval tools that are often called “Archulean hand axes�. Tools were usually made of stone, bone, horn, and wood, which would help people to hunt, gather, and fish. This greatly contributed to their culture as hunter-gatherers during the Paleolithic period.
NEO LIT HIC The Neolithic period is a period around 3000 B.C. that typically refers to the last part of the stone age, also known as the “New Stone Age�. This was a period of technological changes for Ancient Egypt, where the beginning of village life brought new practices of farming, herding, and a transition from the prior period of hunting and gathering. Large numbers of species were replaced with domesticated ones and human populations began living in permanent villages.
The hollow-base arrowhead was a common tool used in the Neolithic period (ca. 7000-45000 B.C.) where these tools were often made from flint material that could be found in the cobbles o the desert’s surface. It is hypothesized that these arrowheads could have been attached to wooden shafts or used in spears, but the Neolithic period one of the first times where arrowheads appeared in history.
Arrowhead ca 7000–4500 B.C.
NEOL
Pottery became a popular occurence in the early Neolithic period, and was often decorated with line patterns and points, made by using combs or cords. The late Neolithic period brought about ceramics that were smoothed upon the surface, where water could likely be stored.
Neolith ca 5000
of
n d is d
ITHIC
hic Pottery 0-4000 B.C.
Nabta Playa ca 11000-9000 B.C. This late Neolithic stone alignment was an alignment of ten stones that occured between 11,000 to 9,000 years ago, that suggest that these stone alignements held significance relating to the Ancient Egyptian calendar of celestial/astronomical movements. Although the Nabta Playa stones may not have had a utilitarian purpose, they are understood to be related to the beleif system of Neolithic pastoralists.
PRE DYNA STIC The Predynastic period was from 3100 to 2950 BC, where there is much evidence of new surpluses in farming and subsistence in villages. There is increased long-distance trade and exchange of exotic material in this period and the production of craft was also increasingly popular, including the creation of specialized artifacts such as jewelry, stone palettes and vessels, and more. The Predynastic society became more economically complex as well.
In the Predynastic Period, people began cra ized ceramic pottery, like this bowl that has shape of human feet. This is a simplistic, rou made from Nile clay, with a polished surface ly-forward stance. The bowl is said to emula hieroglyph that means, “to bring” and the m bowl is not fully understood. It is said that c this could be placed above tombs to present funerary rituals in pharonic Egypt.
bowl with human feet ca 3900–3650 B.C.
PREDYN This is a decorated ware jar of the Predynastic/Late Naqada II period that is dated from approximately 3500-3000 B.C. This pottery depicts ungulates and boats with human figurines, where the images seem to important social or religious events. The pottery depicts two male and two female figurines that stand upon a boat, where animals such as birds and plants and water are also represented.
decorated ware jar ca 3500–3300 B.C
afting specialsupports in the und bowl that is e and a slightate the Egyptian meaning of this ceramics like t offerings in
NASTIC This is a figurine of the early Naqada II, Predynastic period that is made of unbaked clay, ceramic, or ivory. Egyptian sculptures at this time typically depicted men and women in formal poses and had details such as clothing, body hair, or tattoos that could be inscribed or painted on the sculpture. This sculpture has a beard and detailed facial features and clothing that were incised into the ivory.
figurine of a man ca. 3650–3450 B.C.
EARLY DYN ASTIC The Early Dynastic took place from 2950-2575 B.C. and was said to be the dynasty of kingship, where kings had began to rule through administrative bureaucracy. This is when the capital of Memphis was founded, and the idea of urbanism had developed amongst city states. The stratification of Ancient Egypt was becoming more present within the idea of the King as a divine ruler, and there were mortuary cults that created impressive monumental architecture for tombs in Abydos and Saqqara.
This Early Dynastic figure depicts a crouchi came from the process of unifying both Upp er Egypt into a central state. The Metropolit of Art attributes the simplified nature of the a style that is typical of this period, where Eg just learning to master the art of carving in simply carved and curled over the back, and many detailed features.
lion cub ca. 3100–2900 B.C.
EARLY DY
The Narmer Palette, also known as the Great Hierarkonpolis Palette is an Ancient Egypt archaeological artifact that is said to depict the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the rule of king Narmer. The Narmer Palette depicts a traditional style of art at this time with early hieroglyphic inscriptions upon the siltstone palette. It was suggested that palettes were often used for grinding cosmetics, but a palette that is large and heavy such as this was more likely used as a ritual object.
the narm ca. 3200
ing lion that per and Lowtan Museum e sculpture to Egyptians were stone. The tail is d the statue lacks
YNASTIC
mer palette 0-3000 B.C.
Limestone Stela of King Djet ca. 2980 BC This limestone stela of King Djet is one of the earliest conventions of writing the royal name, in the format of a serekh which is a rectangular design that symbolizes the niched facade of a palace. The serekh is surmounted by a “Seth� animal/god that looks like a falcon, that is said to suggest a change in kingship during this time period.
OLD KING DOM The Old Kingdom is a period between 2575 and 2150 BC also called the “Age of Pyramids�, including dynasties 3 through 6. The two pyramids at Giza were belongings of Khufu and his son Khafra and are monuments that reflect the engineering and design at the time as a result of the highly accomplished state. Kingship was one of the central political organizations, and the construction of royal monuments, specifically the pyramids, were some of the most highly complex results of this era.
This fragment of relief is an elaborate scen Kingdom that depicts four archers, wearin chests in order to show that they are soldi earliest preserved battle scene in the Four was said to have been carved during the r who built the Great Pyramid at Giza, and the second pyramid. The archers are deep this representation and each archer is ind many other Egyptian scenes that portray way.
archers ca. 2551–2494 B.C.
OLD KIN
This lion figure is an object from the Old Kingdom, likely from Herakleopolis, that depicts a lion figure that supposedly guarded the entrance to a pyramid-age sanctuary. Because lions are a representation of power, lions symbolized female deities and royalty from early on. This is also a representation of the prevalence of pyramids at the time, where the Old Kingdom was called “The Age of Pyramids”.
the recu ca. 2575
ne from the Old ng bands on their iers. This is the rth Dynasty and reigns of Khufu, d Khafre, who built ply detailed within dividualized, unlike figures in a uniform
NGDOM
umbant lion 5–2450 B.C.
Royal Acquaintances Memi and Sabu ca. 2575–2465 B.C. This statue is a sculpture of the 4th dynasty between the dates of 2575-2465 B.C. This statue depicts Memi and his companion, Sabu, and is a statue of nonroyals. The early date for Memi and Sabu is based on her coiffure and “on the reciprocated embrace” (Metropolitan Museum of Art), where scholars have dated this back to the 4th dynasty because of this. This particular object was likely from the Memphite Region in a Western Cemetery and is made of limestone and paint.
FIRST INTERMEDIATE PERIOD The First Intermediate Period took place between 2150 and 1975 BC and followed the collapse of the Old Kingdom and ancient Egyptian civilization at the time. The Old Kingdom collapsed due to environmental stress and socio-political pathologies, shortly after the rule of Pepi II. The First Intermediate Period was generally described as a low point in Egyptian history due to the little information we have about this period and was considered to be a dark age after the collapse of the Old Kingdom.
During the Old Kingdom and First Int od, small amulets of hands and feet we bracelets and anklets in order to protec extremities of their wearers. The amule carnelian, an orange-red stone, and th cent of blood which is said to bring po the amulet.
hand and foot amulets ca. 2465–2100 B.C.
FIRST INTE PER
The Stela of King Intef II Wahankh was created in the First Intermediate Period within the 11th Dynasty and was during the reign of King Intef II. Made out of limestone, this stela was likely to be one of many small stelas that were placed in the courtyard of his tomb in Thebes. The scene depicts the king holding a bowl of beer and jug of milk that he is offering to the god Re and the goddess Hathor, likely a ritual offering. This is an extremely detailed carving and the text highlights a request for Re to give protection during the night and praise to Harthor, alongside a prayer for mortuary offerings.
the stela of II waha ca. 2108–2
termediate Periere included in ct the limbs and ets were made of he color is reminisower and energy to
ERMEDIATE IOD
king intef ankh 2059 B.C.
writing board of an apprentice scribe ca. 2030 B.C. This object is said to be an apprentice’s scribe who was practicing penmanship, according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because the hieroglyphs are not properly formed and the spacing is uneven, scholars believe this board was practiced on ny a scribe where he could scrape or wipe off the ink. This object is made out of wood, whitewash, and ink.
MIDDLE KING DOM The Middle Kingdom took place from 1975 to 1640 BC that is characterized by increasing threats by foreign force and major social pathologies. With upper Egypt controlled by Thebes, this was a time of Egyptian military activity and expansion, where King Mentuhotep II expanded his control and created warfare within the Herakleopolitan kingdom. This is also the time where Queen Hatshepsut would come into power and build her famous mortuary temple.
This is a depiction of Senwosret III as a mon practice where fictional creatures with the head of a royal king or queen a lion. In Ancient Egypt, this represent and feline power, where this specific sp to convey a sense of tension and watch to its depiction of Senwosret III.
senwosret III as a sphinx ca.1878–1840 B.C.
MIDDLE K
This hippopotamus, also known as “William” was created in Dynasty 12 between the years of 1961 and 1878 B.C. and represents the Egyptian appreciation for the natural world. This was made out of ground quartz and painted with blue glaze, with heavy symbolism of river plants and marshes to represent the environment where the animal lives. To the Egyptians, the hippopotamus was one of the most dangerous animals in the world because and are said to possibly be encountered in the waterways on the journey to the afterlife.
Hippopotamu ca. 1961–1
a sphinx, a coms are combined and the body of ts human intellect phinx is supposed hfulness, also due
KINGDOM
us “William” 1878 B.C.
king of senwosret III ca. 1878–1840 B.C.
This is a sculpture of the face of Senwosret made within 1878 to 1840 B.C. (The Middle Kingdom) and made out of red quartzite. This is a lifesize sculpture of the king who wears a folded cloth nemes headdress. The quartzite was used for this particular sculpture because quartzite is commonly used to sculpt the royals (the kings and the elite), and this image of Senwosret III was likely to have been sculpted in a workshop. There is chipped detailing on the nose with realistic facial features.
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD The Second Intermediate Period was a time of divided rule in Egypt, between the end of the Middle Kingdom and the start of the New Kingdom. It is best characterized by its first appearances of Hyksos people from West Asia in Ancient Egypt, occurring from 1640 BC to 1520 BC. The 13th dynasty in particular is known for the accession of King Khendjer.
This object from the Second Intermediate Period is a scarab with the name of Hyksos King Khayan, which is reflective of the migration of Hyksos people in West Asia to Egypt during this time period. Made of steatite and gold mount, scarabs attest to a variety of names and titles, popular for recording Hykos and non-Egyptian names as well.
Scarab with the Name of the Hyksos King Khayan ca. 1620–1581 B.C.
SECO INTERM PER
OND MEDIATE IOD
magical container in the shape of a hippopotamus deity ca. 1700–1500 B.C. This is a sculpture of a hippopotamus goddess known as Tawaret or Ipet that is also used as a magical jar. The jar contains a rounded lid at the top, with three openings between her teeth, and scholars suggest that the lid may have been used to insert a wire that depicts a tongue or snake from her mouth. The container may have additionally been used for ritualistic practices, where the representation of the hippo goddess can be used as a part of a magical act for a pregnant woman or infant--as the hippopotamus goddess protects women in childbirth.
NEW KING DOM The New Kingdom is a period between 1520 BC – 1075 BC also known as the Egyptian Empire, commonly seen as Egypt’s most prosperous time and ultimate peak of power. The New Kingdom included some of Egypt’s most famous and notable pharaohs, where Ahmose I, Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Amenhotep III, and more were key figures in expanding Egypt’s trade, wealth, and power in Ancient Egypt. The New Kingdom consisted of dynasties seventeen to twenty.
seated statue of hatshepsut ca. 1479–1458 B.C. This is a life-sized statue of Hatshepsut where she is shown to wear a nemes-headcloth and a shendyt-kilt, two items that are often part of ceremonial attires of the king. This statue is particularly significant due to the fact that Hatshepsut is one of the most influential rulers of Egypt while being a female ruler, in a time where the role of the pharaoh was traditionally assigned to a man. The representation of Hatshepsut as a ruler shows both her power and femininity that was important to her reign.
NE KING
EW GDOM
The Head of Ahmose I is a sculpture from the 18th Dynasty that depicts Ahmose I wearing a white crown, which is a symbol of upper egypt. Ancient rulers of this dynasty were largely attributed to reuniting Egypt in the New Kingdom, and the life-sized depiction of this statue is a prominent representation of Ahmose I’s influence as a ruler. According to scholars, the slanted nature of the statue’s eyes seem to depict a feeling of intensity that is similar to an artistic style of Ancient Egypt in Dynasty 18.
head of ahmose I ca. 1550–1525 B.C.
THIRD INTERMEDIATE PERIOD The Third Intermediate Period was a period from 1075 BC to 715 BC, where it is often seen as the foundation of the 26th dynasty. This period was a period of political decline and general instability in Ancient Egypt, where Egypt was heavily divided due to conquest by foreigners. The period was made up by dynasties twenty-one through twenty-five, and began with the death of Pharaoh Ramesses XI at the end of the New Kingdom.
THIRD INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
ram’s head amulet ca. 712–664 B.C. This is the amulet of a ram’s head made around 712-664 B.C. It is said that the amulet was likely made to be worn by a king, and many pharaohs were depicted wearing a ram’s head amulet around their necks. Rams were often associated with the god Amun, especially in Nubia, which is likely to be worn by royalty such as a Kushite king.
LATE PERIOD The Late Period was a time between 715 BC to 332 BC that refers to the last generation of Egyptian rulers after the Third Intermediate Period. The Late Period was the final period of especially “Egyptian� styles of art and culture, however, Ancient Egyptian culture had greatly diminished around this period. The twenty-sixth dynasty was the last dynasty to rule Egypt before Persia conquered, also known as the Saite Period.
This is a ritual figure of the Late Period 380-246 B.C. Made out of wood and a pose of the figure is supposedly a depic being. The three-dimensional represen would then be placed around shrines o order to be used during a procession. S this object as a representation of an ac others see it as a mythical creature that a different ritual.
ritual figure ca. 380–246 B.C.
LATE P
The Apis bull was one of the most sacred animal deities of Ancient Egypt, representing ideas of fertility and regeneration especially in Egyptian ceremonies. This bull was made out of ivory and has a white triangle on its forehead in order to display a particular color pattern. There are also engravings of a vulture and a winged scarab flank. Apis bulls are usually buried with honors and have their own burial place.
apis bull ca. 664–3
d dated around lead sheet, the ction of a divine ntation of the figure of certain gods in Scholars interpret ctual king, while at was important in
ERIOD
statuette 343 B.C.
reliefs from the tomb of nespekashuty ca. 656–610 B.C. Limestone reliefs were often built into tombs in themes, used as decoration to represent the subject matter and style of the period. This particular relief depicts the vizier Nepekashuty, who took over the terrace of a Middle Kingdom Dynasty II tomb in order to cut into the north cliff at Deirel-Bahri. The relief was created in two stages, first by artisans who created the background, and then by fine relief carvers who worked on details such as the figurines.