College of Engineering and Architecture
AR HOA 1B
History of Architecture – 1
Tues & Fri 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Research No.:
“MT – RS – 02”
Research Title:
“Egyptian Architecture”
Date Given:
September 27, 2019
References:
The lotus and papyrus, growing on the banks of their river, symbolizing the food for the body
and mind; the feathers of rare birds, which were carried before the king as emblems of
sovereignty; the palm- branch, with the twisted cord made from its stems; these are the few
types which form the basis of that immense variety of ornament with which the Egyptians
decorated the temples of their gods, the palaces of their kings, the covering of their persons,
their articles of luxury or of more modest daily use, from the wooden spoon which fed them to
the boat which carried their similarly adorned embalmed bodies across the Nile to their last
home in the valley of the dead.
In ancient Egyptian architecture, a variety of ornaments were used to decorate their structures.
A few of which are the lotus, papyrus, feather and the palm branch. These are apparently the
most frequently used motifs of design. These different forms of ornaments however, can be
altered and combined with each other to create another variant.
Egyptian ornament is of three kinds: that which is constructive, or forming part of the
monument itself, of which it is the outward and graceful covering of the skeleton within; that
which is representative, but at the same time conventionally rendered; and that which is simply
decorative. In all cases it was symbolic, and, as we have observed, formed on some few types,
which were but slightly changed during the whole period of Egyptian civilization.
Of the first kind, viz. constructive ornament, are the decorations of the means of support and
the crowning members of the walls. The column only a few feet high, or one forty or sixty feet,
as at Luxor and Karnac, was an enlarged papyrus plant: the base representing the root; the
shaft, the stalk; and the capital, the full-blown flower, surrounded by a bouquet of smaller
plants (No. 1, Plate VI.), tied together by bands
LOTUS & papyrus
The lotus refers to a type of water lily where the flower closes and sinks underwater at dusk,
and then at dawn, it rises and opens again, hence, symbolizing the sun, of creation and rebirth.
The papyrus is a triangular reed that symbolizes lower Egypt and portrays fertility. The lotus is a
symbol of upper Egypt where it is combined with the papyrus, to ultimately depict the union of
lower and upper Egypt.
The lotus ornament is so widely spread that it is distinguished all throughout the Egyptian
structures and is recognized in it the source of all ornaments. In Egyptian columns, the lotus
and papyrus can be seen as a crown for its capital where the flower is either open or closed.
The lotus is also used as a repetitive border pattern that is usually in alternation with buds, and
the papyrus, which fit harmoniously with them.
SPIRAL
The spiral is one of the greatest elements of ancient Egyptian architectural embellishment but is
only second to the lotus in importance. It has been said to represent the wanderings of the
soul.
Spirals come in a variety, some comes in circular, others in oval spirals, some come in spirals
with ends, and others are in endless scrolls.
Where lines are coiled closely in a circular curve, they are termed as coils
Where lines are lengthened out, they are named as hooks
but where the same line is maintained unbroken throughout, it is a continuous spiral
These different variants can be combined to form a one body of ornament, videlicet,
continuous coil spiral, endless hook pattern and more.
Continuous spirals have separate ends, but more usually it is endless, returning into itself.
It has been said that judging from analogy of the inlaid capitals, the continuous coil spiral
pattern was derived from a strip of gold that is twisted into a spiral, and the spaces in between
was filled by colored stones.
This is the quadruple spiral where the spaces are filled in by lotus flowers, and the lines that
connect each spiral does not end. The quadruple spiral is splendidly shown in the ceiling of
Orchomenos.
PALM
The palm ornament was derived from the palm tree leaf but was before based on the features of
various flowers such as the papyrus and the lotus before it was finally associated with the palm
tree as a standard motif. This ornament also comes with different permutations such as the
palmette, where singular palm leaves are spread to form a fan-shaped ornament. The palmette
motifs can exist both as a form of flower and a stylized tree which is often referred to as a “Tree
of Life”. The palm capital is also another modified version in which individual palm leaf
ornaments are set to form a crown around the capital of a column. They can also include the
lotus and other ornaments.
PAPYRUS
Papyriform column
The column was made in several variations some in a circular form representing the single
plant, while others as ribbed with multiple stems. The capitals were closed buds or open bellshaped form.
Triangular reed
Grape
The vine is one of the few of the ancient cultivated plants in Egypt. The grape ornament can be
seen together with the vines that can represent the hold it maintains in the grape. It often
forms in bunches that hangs on a ceiling from a trellis pattern. They are also painted in rows
hanging from the architrave, a part of the column.
Sacred boat
the crew consists of the same gods, and they occupy the same positions in the boat as
they did in the First Division
Ap-uat we see two serpents, which are called Isis and Nephthys respectively,
occupying the front of the boat
the boat moves over the waters by means of some power exerted either by itself or by
some of the gods who stand in it.
This is a scene that portrays the second division where a sacred boat consist a crew of ancient
gods of Egypt where they are all occupying the same position as each other like that in the
previous division. At the front of the boat, two serpents can be seen. These two serpents are
Isis and Nephthys. The zigzag lines below the boat represents the water moving the boat with a
force exerted either by itself or the gods.
THE SECOND DIVISION OF THE TUAT, WHICH IS CALLED URNES.
IN the Scene that illustrates the SECOND DIVISION of the Tuat, which is passed
through by the Sun-god
The Boat of Af in the Second Hour
.
during the SECOND HOUR of the night, the Boat of the Ram-headed god AF is seen
making its way along the
p. 22
stream which flows, as before, through the division lengthwise; the crew consists of
the same gods, and they occupy the same positions in the boat as they did in the First
Division. It is, however, important to notice that immediately in front of Ap-uat we
see two serpents, which are called Isis and Nephthys respectively, occupying the front
of the boat. No carpet or mat hangs over the bows of the boat, and the utchat is not
represented on its side; the boat moves over the waters by means of some power
exerted either by itself or by some of the gods who stand in it. In front of the boat of
AF the way is led by a procession of four boats, which are moved, presumably, by the
same power which moves the boat of Ra.
The FIRST BOAT has ends which terminate in bearded human heads, and its celestial
and solar character is attested by the sign for "heaven," and the utchat,
with
which its sides are ornamented. The object of this boat is to support the disk of the full
moon, which rests within a crescent upon a support divided into thirteen sections,
each typifying a day; thus the full moon as it appears on the fourteenth day of the
month is here represented. By the disk kneels a god who is "supporting Maat," which
is symbolized by a feather, and is described by the word MAAT written between it
and the support of the moon's disk. In the mutilated text above the
p. 23
boat it is said that "this great god approacheth this region, and he is conveyed along in
the boats of the earth, by means of their . . . . ., and he paddleth along through this
Field and uttereth words,"
FEATHER
Seen in thrones, dresses of people, gods,, coffins, non-defensive body armor
The feather ornament is part of the natural decoration. It is frequently found on coffins
because of ancient Egyptians’ beliefs about their gods’ protecting wings for the dead
in the afterlife. A wide variety of feather pattern is spread all throughout Egyptian
thrones, people and gods’ dresses and ornamental body armor. And some were added
to other ornaments.