HAA 0150 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Saqqara, Sed Festival, Mastaba
15 Sep 2015
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
3rd-6th dynasties: period of stability, rural, agrarian communities integrated into the state, memphis was center state of administration, divine king was immortal king. Giza and saqqara on western bank are mortuary centers. West bank was land of the dead . Saqqara djoser"s mortuary complex (3rd dynasty: can"t go into structures false buildings create backdrop for rituals, enclose courtyards. Largest courtyard has circle stone pile territorial run of king. Symbolic ritual to symbolize extent of king"s territory: small courtyard lines with divine shrines for gods to stay while king performed heb-sed ritual. Lined with statues of djoser to attend self on rituals: serdab statue painted limestone, 1. 42 m tall. Statue above ground, facing north (towards eternal stars of sky) Statue could look out at ritual performers statue embodies king, ka inhabits figure. Pedestal inscription of titles and name: stepped pyramid. Early old kingdom experiments with pyramid shape. Continuous effort to emphasize sun god ra and king"s protection under ra"s manifestation.
