Name________________________________________________ Period______ Date________________ Chapter 4: Ancient Egypt and Ancient Kush Section 4: Egyptian Achievements Big Idea: The Egyptians made lasting achievements in writing, architecture, and art. Egyptian Writing Vocabulary
1) Hieroglyphics: Egyptian writing system 2) Papyrus: a long-­‐lasting, paper-­‐like material made from reeds
3) Rosetta Stone: a stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics Writing in Ancient Egypt
Early Egyptian writings were carved on stone, or other hard material; later, scribes wrote on papyrus because these sheets were tough and durable. The hieroglyphic writing system used more than 600 symbols, mostly pictures of objects. Each symbol represented one or more sounds in the Egyptian language. Hieroglyphics could be written horizontally or vertically, making it difficult to read. The Rosetta Stone We are able to read hieroglyphics because of the Rosetta Stone, a stone slab inscribed with hieroglyphics. The Rosetta Stone had text in Greek and a later form of Egyptian writing. Because the text in all three languages was the same, scholars were able to figure out what the hieroglyphics said. Egyptian Texts Because papyrus did not decay, many Egyptian texts survive. Historians can read about Egyptian government and historical records, science texts, stories, poems, and mythological tales. The Book of the Dead tell us about the afterlife. Temples, Tombs, and Art Vocabulary
1) Sphinxes: imaginary creatures with the bodies of lions and the heads of other animals or humans 2) Obelisk: a tall, four-­‐sided pillar that is pointed at the top
Egypt’s Great Temples The Egyptians believed that temples were the homes of the gods. People visited temples to worship, offer the gods gifts, and ask for favors. Egyptian temples shared similar features. Rows of stone sphinxes lined the path leading to the entrance. The entrance itself was a huge, thick gate. On either side of the gate might stand an obelisk. The temples were lavishly decorated. In many cases, the columns in the temples were covered with paintings and hieroglyphics, as were the walls. The sanctuary, the most sacred part of the building, was at the far end of the temple. Egyptian Art Egyptians painted lively, colorful scenes on canvas, papyrus, pottery, plaster, and wood. The temple art was created to honor the gods, while the tomb art was intended for the enjoyment of the dead in the afterlife. The subjects of Egyptian paintings vary. Some paintings show important historical events, others illustrate major religious rituals, and others show scenes from everyday life. Egyptians made objects out of gold and precious stones. They used gold to make burial items for their pharaohs. Treasure hunters emptied many pharaohs’ tombs. In 1922, one undisturbed tomb was found. The tomb was for King Tutankhamen, or King Tut. The tomb was filled with treasures, including jewelry, robes, a burial mask, and ivory statues. King Tut’s treasures have taught us much about Egyptian burial practices and beliefs.