MASTABAS Historical Background

This type of structure was an elaboration of the Pre – Dynastic Period burial-pit and
mound form. Mastabas were favored as funerary monument from the Early Dynastic
Period on  As the Egyptian craftsmanship increased in the Early Dynastic Period,
mastaba such as those of the first dynasty at Saqqara, were elaborate, having many
storage or offering compartments, housing funerary chapels, shrines, offering tables
and were quite evidently close copies of contemporary houses.  In the Old
Kingdom, even after the Pharaohs began to be buried in pyramids, other royal
officials were still interred in Mastabas, usually around the site of the pyramid.
Usage and Shape  A sepulchral structure built aboveground.  Mastabas were
built above a shaft at the bottom of which was situated a tomb The structure above
the ground were relatively low  Rectangular in plan with inward-sloping walls  Flat
roof.  Built of brick and faced with limestone slabs.  sides sloping at an angle of
about 75 degrees  they were derived from the rude heaps of stones piled over
earlier mummy holes.  They consisted of three parts : (i) The outer chamber, in
which were placed the offerings to the Ka or " double," decorated with festal and
other scenes which are valuable from an historical standpoint. (ii) The inner secret
chamber, known as the " serdab," which contained statues of the deceased
members of the family. (iii) The chamber containing the sarcophagus, reached by an
underground shaft.
Decorations and Examples  Plain undecorated exterior  The interior of mastaba
walls were decorated with texts and images, illustrating scenes from the daily life of
the deceased, offering scenes and ritual hunt scenes.
The Mastaba of Thi, Sakkara  well preserved and restored, dates from the Fifth
Dynasty, and was erected to Thi, who held the position of royal architect and
superintendent of pyramids.  It consists of a small vestibule, beyond which is a
large court, where offerings to the deceased were made, and from which a mummy
shaft led to the tomb chamber.  The masonry is accurately jointed, and the bas-
reliefs are some of the finest and most interesting in Egypt.
 A second tomb chamber, 22 ft. 9 ins. by 23 ft. 9 ins. and 12 ft. 6 ins. high, has
mural reliefs which represent harvesting, ship-building, slaughtering of sacrificial
animals, as well as arts and crafts of Old Egypt  while Thi himself is pictured in a
papyrus thicket, sailing through the marshes.
ROYAL PYRAMIDS  In its most common form, a pyramid is a massive stone or
brick structure with a square base and four sloping triangular sides that meeting a
point at the top. Pyramids have been built by different peoples at various times in
history. Probably the best-known pyramids are those of ancient Egypt,which were
built to protect the tombs of rulers or other important persons.  Early royal pyramids
were of mastaba type, from which the true pyramid evolved. Pyramids did not
stand in isolation. they were surrounded by a walled enclosure and had an offering
chapel, with a stele, a mortuary temple for the worship of the dead and deified
Pharaoh pyramids were built during the lifetime of the Pharaohs, because of their
belief in immortality.
Pyramids were founded on living rock, were of limestone quarried in their locality,
faced with the finer limestone. Granite, in limited use, such as linings of the
chambers and passages. Tomb Chambers and their approaches were either cut in
the rock below the monument or were in its constructed core. Entrances were from
the north side, the sides were scrupulously oriented with the cardinal points.
ROCK – HEWN TOMBS  Served for the nobility rather than royalty Pyramids, of
indifferent construction, remained the principal form of royal tomb. TOMBS, BENI
HASAN• Belonged to a provincial great family.• totally rock –hewn, each consists of
a chamber behind a porticoed façade• slightly fluted and tapered columns
TEMPLES  Two main classes – mortuary temples, for ministrations to deified
Pharaohs Cult temples, for the popular worship of ancient and mysterious gods
 Royal burials more important than mortuary temples  Their special character
merged into that of the cult temples, lost thedistinction between the two types. Cult
temples essentials were rectangular palisaded court entered from a narrow end
flanked by pennon – poles centrally within them an emblem of deity pavilion
comprising vestibule and sanctuary  Mortuary and cult temples had most features
in common. Along main axis, not specifically oriented, there was walled open court,
with colonnades around leading to covered structure. Transverse axis in covered
structure had columned vestibule and sanctuary. Impressive axial gateway to the
court.
TEMPLE OF KHONS , KARNAK  A Cult temple  it had entrance pylons, court
hypostyle hall, sanctuary, and various chapels all enclosed by high girdle wall  The
entrance pylons, fronted by obelisks, Corridor of Sphinxes were approached through
an imposing avenue of sphinxes. The Portal gave on to the open court,surrounded
on three sides by a double colonnade and leading to the hypostyle hall
 The light in the Hypostyle was admitted through clearstory  Beyond was the
sanctuary , with openings front and back and a circulating passage around 
Beyond this was again a four- columned hall.  There were small rooms flanking the
sanctuary  on its rear were mainly chapels, for purpose of rituals  The temple was
protected by a great wall of the same height as the halls  The wall decreased in
height towards the sanctuary end.