Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: A Very Short Introduction

Christina Riggs

Very Short Introductions

Examines what we consider to be both 'ancient' and 'Egyptian'
Organized by theme to introduce the big ideas in Egyptian art
Looks at how pieces of art can tell us much about historical power and the dynamics of society
Considers how European and Western ideas about ancient Egyptian art have changed over time
Considers the contemporary relevance of ancient Egyptian art and architecture today
Explores the visual themes that appear in ancient Egyptian art
Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - millions of copies sold worldwide

Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: A Very Short Introduction

Christina Riggs

Description

From Berlin to Boston, and St Petersburg to Sydney, ancient Egyptian art fills the galleries of some of the world's greatest museums, while the architecture of Egyptian temples and pyramids has attracted tourists to Egypt for centuries. But what did Egyptian art and architecture mean to the people who first made and used it - and why has it had such an enduring appeal?

In this Very Short Introduction, Christina Riggs explores the visual arts produced in Egypt over a span of some 4,000 years. The stories behind these objects and buildings have much to tell us about how people in ancient Egypt lived their lives in relation to each other, the natural environment, and the world of the gods. Demonstrating how ancient Egypt has fascinated Western audiences over the centuries with its impressive pyramids, eerie mummies, and distinctive visual style, Riggs considers the relationship between ancient Egypt and the modern world.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: A Very Short Introduction

Christina Riggs

Very Short Introductions

Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: A Very Short Introduction

Christina Riggs

Very Short Introductions

Author Information

Christina Riggs is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Art History and World Art Studies, University of East Anglia, where she specializes in ancient Egyptian art, the history of archaeology, and museum studies. Christina has worked in several museums with important ancient Egyptian collections, including the Manchester Museum, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She is the author of Unwrapping Ancient Egypt (Bloomsbury, 2014) and The Beautiful Burial in Roman Egypt (Oxford, 2006).

Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: A Very Short Introduction

Christina Riggs

Very Short Introductions

From Our Blog

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Ancient Egyptian art dates all the way back to 3000BC and provides us with an understanding of ancient Egyptian socioeconomic structures and belief systems. The Ancient Egyptians also developed an array of diverse architectural structures and monuments, from temples to the pyramids that are still a major tourist attraction today. But how much do you know about Ancient Egyptian art and architecture?

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Ancient Egyptian Art and Architecture: A Very Short Introduction

Christina Riggs

Very Short Introductions

Reading Guide

PDF download Download this VSI Reading Guide as an Adobe PDF (28 KB)

Questions for Thought and Discussion

What does a phrase like ‘ancient Egypt’ or ‘Egyptian art’ bring to your mind?
Where have you seen works of art from ancient Egypt, or else inspired by ancient Egypt?
What makes ancient Egyptian art and architecture look ‘Egyptian’?
Why have ancient Egyptian art and architecture been side-lined or overlooked in many histories of art?
How did Egyptian antiquities, and even entire buildings or parts of buildings, come to populate the cities and museums of Europe and North America?
How many languages are written on the Rosetta Stone - and why are all of them significant?
What kinds of Egyptian antiquities can you see in a museum near you, or on a favourite museum website? Can you spot similarities in style, materials, or use?
Does the religious function of many Egyptian antiquities (including mummies!) mean that they shouldn’t be considered as works of art?
Why can we identify so few ancient Egyptian artists or architects by name?
What raw materials were used to make ancient Egyptian objects and buildings?
Why was the king (or pharaoh) so important in ancient Egyptian art and architecture?
Does ancient Egyptian art tell us anything about ‘normal’ people, or only a small elite?
In what ways does ancient Egyptian art deal with sex and fertility?
Did art and architecture change when Egypt came under first Greek, then Roman rule?
Over the past two centuries, what economic and political factors have influenced interest in ancient Egypt – from the Napoleonic expedition to the sculptures of Mahmoud Mukhtar?
What do you think Fred Wilson’s Grey Area (see Fig. 22) is saying about debates surrounding the racial identity of the ancient Egyptians?