ARH 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Narmer, Great Sphinx Of Giza
28 Apr 2016
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Geography: nile runs south to north. Religion: polytheistic (pharaoh was deity, ka eternal spirit (eg. could be found in objects buried with dead) Palette of narmer (pre-dynastic (not old kingdom yet): narrative in registers, shows victory and narmer slaying someone, on back shows decapitated enemies, each register shows different stuff. West side of nile (symbol of death) Hidden statues way far down with ka of deceased. Burial chamber decorated with colorful depictions of daily activities. Very hard to break into (huge, thick walls) One side has engaged columns: attached to wall, not for structural support, resemble papyrus stalks. Great pyramids at giza: stone, white limestone, 4th dynasty c 2500, burial chambers in vaults, interior had false passages, air shafts, galleries, ascending/descending corridors, very well built, organized, all the angles super precise. Great sphinx: huge, limestone, associates pharaoh with sun god, solid, no chambers.
