Art and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt: Predynastic to Old Kingdom
Melissa Amaral, M.Ed.
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(95)
By examining paintings, sculptures, and pottery alongside massive architectural projects like the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx, students will gain a greater understanding of the lives and worldviews of ancient Egyptians.
Class experience
US Grade 6 - 9
Intermediate - Advanced Level
Ancient Egypt's history spans over 4,000 years. In this class, we will examine the earliest evidence of Egyptian art and history. No prior knowledge is required, but some familiarity with ancient Egypt and burial practices such as mummification is helpful. Week 1: Prehistoric Beginnings: Badarian and Naqada Culture Much of the earliest evidence of ancient Egyptian culture dates back to the period between roughly 5000 and 3000 BCE. At this time, Egypt was not a unified civilization, but...
4 lessons//4 Weeks
Week 1Lesson 1Prehistoric Beginnings: Badarian and Naqada CultureMuch of the earliest evidence of ancient Egyptian culture dates back to the period between roughly 5000 and 3000 BCE. At this time, Egypt was not a unified civilization, but rather a collection of fragmented regions with local leaders. We begin to see two-dimensional images of people, animals, and patterns painted onto pottery, as well as clay figurines, ivory carvings, and slate palettes. Hieroglyphics were also developed during this time period. We will look at the evolution of early EgyptianWeek 2Lesson 2Early Dynastic PeriodDuring the reigns of the first kings of a unified Egypt, many of the artistic motifs about kingship and Egyptian religion were established. We will examine artifacts such as the Narmer palette, the Scorpion macehead, and an ivory tag depicting King Den to see how the earliest kings were represented. Students will learn about the serekh, the precursor to the more widely known cartouche. We will also look at the evolution of royal tombs from the mastaba to the Step Pyramid of King Djoser.Week 3Lesson 3The Age of PyramidsDuring the next few dynasties, kings continued to experiment with pyramids, advancing from the Bent Pyramid of King Seneferu to the Great Pyramid of King Khufu (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). Both royal and non-royal tombs were lavishly painted with scenes of everyday life and the afterlife. We will investigate the art and architecture of these tombs and pyramid complexes to see what they reveal about the lives of elite Egyptians as well as their beliefs about the afterlife.Week 4Lesson 4The Art of the Old KingdomIn our final week, we take a deeper dive into the art of the Old Kingdom, paying special attention to how people were represented. We will learn what size, posture, and clothing tell us about people in ancient Egyptian images. We will examine sculpture, reliefs, and paintings to uncover similarities and differences in styles between the different Old Kingdom dynasties.
This class is taught in English.
Students will learn about early Egyptian history from the predynastic era to the Old Kingdom. Students will be able to distinguish between artifacts of the predynastic periods and the Old Kingdom. Students will be able to explain the evolution of royal tombs from mastabas to pyramids. Students will be able to identify common characteristics of the representation of human figures in early Egyptian art.
I have a bachelor's degree in Archaeology with several courses in ancient Egyptian art and history. Ancient Egypt has always been one of my biggest interests since childhood, and I am so excited to foster this interest in a new generation!
Homework Offered
Each lesson will include a brief handout (fill-in-the-blanks) to help summarize major points from the class. We review the answers at the beginning of the following class as a review. I can share additional resources between classes for students who want to learn more.0 - 1 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Students are assessed informally throughout class. I embed multiple-choice or true/false questions throughout my presentation to review important concepts and check for understanding. I also provide handouts and graphic organizers for students to take note of information learned and may ask students to share what they've written or drawn.Grades Offered
Handouts will be provided
Bleiberg, Edward. (2005). Arts and Humanities Through the Eras: Ancient Egypt (2675–332 BCE). Thomson Gale. Fletcher, Joann. (2016). The Story of Egypt: The Civilization That Shaped the World. Pegasus Books, Ltd. Metropolitan Museum of Art. (1999). Egyptian Art in the Age of the Pyramids. Snape, Steven. (2021). Ancient Egypt: The Definitive Visual History. Penguin Random House. Robins, Gay. (1997). The Art of Ancient Egypt. Harvard University Press.
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(95)
Hello! My name is Melissa. I help you define and achieve your dreams. How? The most important thing I do is ask questions and listen. I ask the questions that promote self-reflection and self-awareness. I ask the questions that challenge you to...
Group Class
$75
for 4 classes1x per week, 4 weeks
55 min
Completed by 3 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 11-15
1-4 learners per class
