Archaeology lecture 2

Archaeology lecture 2

1. Mantheo was a Ptolemaic Historian

   • 3rd Century BC he divided Egyptian history into dynasties
     • He had access to sources we don't

2. Early Dynastic, 3000BC

   • Whole country united, upper and lower, governed from Memphis
   • Years of stabilty and order

3. End of late period??

   • Macedonian Greek Plotemics expelled Persians
     • Governed Egypt as part of Meditteranian super state until 30BC
   • Used Roman Bread and Circus system

4. Developement of burial rights

   • Gebelein, 3200BC, foetal position with grave goods
     • Pots, probably with food and milk
     • Concept of afterlife
   • Hierakonpolis- first major temple. Earlier temple under later
     • Symbols of Kingship eg. Narmer Palette, explains unification
       • Standard depiction of power, used in Roman times
   • Early Dynastic
     • Early royal burials in Abydos
     • Some cult activities
   • Old kingdom, 2686-2181 BC
     • 'Age of pyramids'
     • Lower Egypt- Memphis and Nubia- are the focus
     • Royal settings in capital, concentrated population
     • Pyramids concentrated in North, near Cairo
       • Burial of King Djoser in 3rd dynasty
         • Step pyramid at Saqqara
         • Imhotep was architect
         • Visible from capital- power statement
         • Had valley temple and harbour for transportation and ceremonies

5. Middle KIngdom 2038-1650

   • Preceeded by period of disarser eg. loss of centralissed authority
   • Emergene of king who looked like kings of old
   • Worshipped at Abydos and Nubia
   • Pyramids made of mud brick covered in Stone
   • Egypt later taken over by Syrian Palastines, the Hixos
   • Expanded in near east, ringing Egypt with protective client states
   • Gold from Nubia
     • Allowed for Temple building eg. temple of Amun in Karnu
   • KIngs buried in Valley of the Kings
   • Brief period of monotheism under KIng Akhenaten, unpopular and soon replaced

6. Late period 664-332BC

   • Memphis no longer base, kings moved to Delta
     • New capitals eg. Tanis in eastern Delta
   • Weak and reused materials
   • Conquroed by Nubian Pharos then twice by Perians
   • Alexander expelled Persians then died
     • Generals divided his KIngdom, with Ptolemy being best
     • Egypt now faced Mediteranian

7. Ptolemiac dynasty, 305-30BC

   • Building across Egypt
   • Most famous was Cleopatra VII

8. Roman period 30-396

   • Overthrown by Romans due to their influence
   • Slight change in material culture, especially funerals, but still mummified
     • Art changed