Overview
This lecture covers the New Kingdom era of ancient Egypt, focusing on key pharaohs (Hatshepsut, Akhenaten, Tutankhamun), their religious reforms, burial practices, and the evolution of royal art and architecture.
The New Kingdom: Overview and Expansion
- The New Kingdom (1550–1070 BC) began after the expulsion of the Hyksos by Ahmose I.
- This era is considered a golden age of Egypt, marked by wealth, monumental architecture, and military expansion.
- Thebes became a grand metropolis filled with palaces, temples, and tombs.
- The Valley of the Kings, near Thebes, became the main burial site for pharaohs.
Hatshepsut: Rise and Rule
- Hatshepsut, daughter of Thutmose I, ruled as regent for Thutmose III before proclaiming herself pharaoh.
- She legitimized her rule by claiming succession from her father, adopting male pharaoh attributes, performing rituals, and referencing the gods.
- Hatshepsut was depicted both as female and with male pharaoh attributes in art.
- She undertook massive building projects, including her mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahri, which blended nature and architecture.
- Her temple served as her tomb and a shrine to various gods and her father.
Akhenaten and the Amarna Period
- Akhenaten (formerly Amenhotep IV) introduced monotheism centered on Aten, the sun disk.
- He shifted religious power from priests to the pharaoh and built a new capital, Akhetaten (modern Tell el-Amarna).
- Akhenaten's art style broke with tradition, showing androgynous, elongated forms to reflect Aten's characteristics.
- The new era included more intimate depictions of the pharaoh and family, emphasizing accessibility to the divine.
Tutankhamun: Restoration and Legacy
- Tutankhamun, possibly Akhenaten’s son, restored traditional polytheism and priestly power.
- He moved the capital back to Memphis and died young at 18.
- Tutankhamun’s fame comes from the discovery of his nearly intact tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter.
- The tomb's lavish artifacts highlight royal wealth, power, and traditional iconography.
Artistic and Architectural Traditions
- Mortuary temples replaced pyramids as sites of pharaoh worship and burial during the New Kingdom.
- Art continued to symbolize royal power, divinity, and the connection between pharaohs and gods, even as styles evolved.
- Iconography such as headdresses, false beards, and symbolic objects persisted through changes.
Key Terms & Definitions
- New Kingdom — Era of Egyptian history (1550–1070 BC) marked by prosperity and expansion.
- Valley of the Kings — Burial site for New Kingdom pharaohs near Thebes.
- Regent — A person ruling on behalf of a minor king.
- Mortuary Temple — Temple for worshiping a deceased pharaoh.
- Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) — Pharaoh who established worship of Aten.
- Aten — Sun disk god, central to Akhenaten’s monotheism.
- Sunken Relief — Carving where the design is set into the surface.
- Polytheism — Belief in multiple gods.
- Monotheism — Belief in one god.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review key pharaohs’ contributions and religious changes.
- Compare Old and New Kingdom burial practices and art.
- Study the functions and symbolism of mortuary temples and tomb artifacts.
- Prepare for next unit’s themes on art, culture, and power in ancient societies.