When you look at ancient Egyptian art, how can you tell if someone is a king or queen? Often their crown or headdress will be a good sign that you are looking at royalty, and we will look at some examples and what they represented. You might also look for other symbols, such as a fake beard or even a tail. The size or pose of the figure can also be a clue.

In this one-time course, students will learn about the symbolism and iconography of ancient Egyptian kings and queens. We will examine how Egyptian royalty was depicted in paintings, sculptures, and reliefs, comparing and contrasting between different rulers and time periods. We will cover a span of over 3,000 years to see how the ways kings were portrayed changed and stayed the same over time.

This class is taught with large images in a slide show for students to examine details in royal depictions. I will ask students to make observations and point out relevant symbols and artistic choices. I assess students' understanding by having the students apply what they just learned to new images. My teaching style is conversational, collaborative, and encouraging. My goal is to motivate curiosity and enthusiasm about our subjects. I also encourage students to ask their own questions and be active participants in the learning process.