The Ancient Egyptians built many imposing buildings and monuments. The most famous include the pyramids of Egypt, made from stone or brick, usually covered with a layer of plaster. They are among the largest constructions yet erected by humankind. These magnificent structures allowed their pharaohs to be immortalized as gods on earth.
What makes Egyptian buildings so striking is their simple geometric shapes. Their architectural designs were often based around squares or rectangles, rather than more complex curves and arches used in Greek. Ancient buildings are a unique example of architecture that is not only beautiful but also incredibly functional.
What makes Egyptian buildings so striking is their simple geometric shapes. Their architectural designs were often based around squares or rectangles, rather than more complex curves and arches used in Greek. Ancient buildings are a unique example of architecture that is not only beautiful but also incredibly functional.
Much of the ancient Egyptian buildings are made from stone and soil, which both environmental factors and people created certain challenges to overcome in building their most famous structures. The Ancient Egyptians were some of the first people to create a system for laying out cities. Before the ancient Egyptians came along, most cities had no pattern or system to them at all.
The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens. The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes from before the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Middle Kingdom. There are about eighty pyramids known today from ancient Egypt.
The three largest and best-preserved of these were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the 'Great Pyramid'.In the early part of the Old Kingdom, the Egyptians built mainly mastabas, a kind of tomb with a flat roof like a house.
The ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens. The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes from before the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Middle Kingdom. There are about eighty pyramids known today from ancient Egypt.
The three largest and best-preserved of these were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom. The most well-known of these pyramids was built for the pharaoh Khufu. It is known as the 'Great Pyramid'.In the early part of the Old Kingdom, the Egyptians built mainly mastabas, a kind of tomb with a flat roof like a house.
Then throughout most of the Old Kingdom, the Egyptians built the pyramid tombs which are now so famous. Of course they also built smaller buildings like houses and butcher shops. In the Middle Kingdom, the mastaba tomb came back again, although in a more elaborate form for the Pharaohs. They didn't build any more pyramids.
Then in the New Kingdom there was a lot of building that was not tombs: temples for the gods especially, but also palaces for the Pharaohs.The Great Sphinx of Egypt, one of the wonders of ancient Egyptian architecture, adjoins the pyramids of Giza and has a length of 240 ft.
Built in the fourth dynasty, it is approximately 4,500 years old. A 10-year, $2.5 million restoration project was completed in 1998. Other Egyptian buildings of note include the Temples of Karnak, Edfu, and Abu Simbel and the Tombs at Beni Hassan.Djoser's step pyramid complex marks a major evolution in ancient Egyptian building techniques.
Built in the fourth dynasty, it is approximately 4,500 years old. A 10-year, $2.5 million restoration project was completed in 1998. Other Egyptian buildings of note include the Temples of Karnak, Edfu, and Abu Simbel and the Tombs at Beni Hassan.Djoser's step pyramid complex marks a major evolution in ancient Egyptian building techniques.
The improvement in materials and architectural skill is often attributed to his architect, Imhotep. He was a commoner who rose to the very top of Egyptian society with the posts of Vizier, high priest of Ptah, and "overseer of works". Djoser was so pleased with his loyal service and exceptional talents that he had Imhotep´s name inscribed on the base of one of his own statues, a rare honour.
The Egyptians lived in houses made of bricks. The bricks were made of mud and chopped straw. They mixed the mud and straw and then poured the mixture into molds. The molds were placed in the sun to bake into hard bricks. Their homes were huge. Homes had flat roofs.
People often sat outside on their roofs in the evening to watch the sunset and catch the evening breeze. The physical environment affected the homes. Windows were built high up to let heat escape during the day. Cool air going through the windows at night also helped the homes cool.