The Development of Religious Archetecture in New Kingdom

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The expansion of the political and economical power during the New kingdom, led to the devotion of resources to the religious architecture; numerous new temples were constructed while the pre-existing temples were renovated. Individual Pharaohs endeavored to out do their ancestors, not only in the construction of their own mortuary temples, but also in the establishment of worship temples of their deities. Kings of this period abandoned the pyramid complexity of the earlier ages and constructed their tombs in the Valley of the Kings well away from their mortuary temples due to the increase of robbers; therefore a standardized plan became default for both the worship and mortuary temples. Because of this movement, I believe that the divine and mortuary spheres became entwined in both theory and practice. During the 18th dynasty, temple construction reached its highest point under Amenhotep III and Tuthmosis II; it was the art of the Middle kingdom that they wished to imitate. Hatshepsut temple at Deir el Bahari compared to its neighboring temple of Mentuhotep III, are great examples of the return to ancient architectural resources. ( image 4&5) show the direct inspiration based on the replica of the previous kingdom’s architecture. Some of the imitated elements were the long porticoes with squared pillars rising in terraces, wide ascending ramps, the entrances colonnaded with the sanctuary, the great use of papyrus columns and above all the strict harmony of the building with its setting. Although there was a conscious desire to return to the disciplines of the former period, yet development also took place. The attempt to achieve greater effect of lightness became dominant as well as the extra care given to the decoration and t...

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...18th dynasty, the papyrus bundle columns were carved in high relief along the shafts. They were constructed to have a strongly defined narrowing at the base of the capital and the foot of the column. These features gave the column a lighter silhouette and a clear sharpened line. The Amarnian period that followed contained very similar columns with minor differences of less deep stalks, and heavier proportions with more decorations.
Amid the rule of Sety I, even heavier papyrus column emerged, also known as, the bell shaped column. They were formed of open capitals and represented a single stalk supporting a flower in bloom. Very similarly during the rule of Ramses III the same form of columns were used almost circular in form. The diverse interior change of the great halls and courtyards of the temples over the New kingdom was a result of the evolution of columns.

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