Egyptian Art Essay

Haley Frye

Mr. Burr

AP World History

21 September 2017

Artistry In Ancient Egypt Many people are familiar with the pyramids and tombs of Ancient Egypt, yet not as many know about the different types of art created by the lower classes. Documentaries, movies, and television shows rarely mention the more standard art that was created, that didn’t take years of hard labor to create. This art can be compared to the drawings that many people make today, as a hobby to do in their freetime. The only difference is that the Egyptians made art for more practical purposes, and rarely for fun. You would likely find a lot of these pieces in plebian burial sites, or packed away in museum storage. Though they lack the renown of the pyramids and tombs, the different styles and types of art created by the Ancient Egyptians have just as much value as the larger accomplishments, but for different reasons.

Surprisingly, much of the more famous art was not even meant to be seen. For example, the tombs and sarcophaguses were never intended for anyone to see, as they were merely a nice send off for the dead. The art set inside of and painted on the walls of the tomb served to glorify the dead, and show their status. Statuary was another

Other cultures began to seep in, and Persian influence in the Late Period was replaced by Greek tastes in the Ptolemaic Period (323-30 BCE), continuing into the Roman Period (30 BCE-646 CE) and the end of Egyptian culture. Other cultures influenced their art in many ways, and introduced new tools and techniques that many artists moved towards. However, Egyptian art also influenced Persian and Grecian art just as much as they were influenced by the latter two. They gave them a love for impressive feats of architecture, and taught them the value of symmetry in their work, before Egypt eventually