The Arts and Crafts of Ancient Egypt

by W. M. Flinders Petrie

The Arts and Crafts of the Nations

General Editor: S. H. F. CAPENNY

THE ARTS AND CRAFTS
OF ANCIENT EGYPT

OLD KINGDOM RELIEF

55. Wood-carving of Ra-hesy

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THE
ARTS & CRAFTS
OF ANCIENT EGYPT

BY
W. M. FLINDERS PETRIE
D.C.L., F.R.S., F.B.A., ETC., PROFESSOR OF
EGYPTOLOGY IN LONDON UNIVERSITY;
AUTHOR OF “A HISTORY OF EGYPT,” ETC.

CONTAINING
ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY ILLUSTRATIONS

SECOND EDITION
WITH ADDITIONAL CHAPTER

T. N. FOULIS
LONDON & EDINBURGH
1910

First Edition, November 1909
Second Edition, October 1910

PRINTED BY NEILL AND CO., LTD., EDINBURGH

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PREFACE

This present handbook is intended to aid in the understanding of Egyptian art, and the illustrations and descriptions are selected for that purpose only. The history of the art would require a far greater range of examples, in order to illustrate the growth and decay of each of the great periods; whereas here only the most striking works of each period are shown, in order to contrast the different civilisations. The origins and connections of the art in each age are scarcely touched, and the technical details are only such as are needed to see the conditions of the art. The archaeology of the subject would need as wide a treatment as the history, and these subjects can only appear here incidentally.

It should be noticed that the divisions of artistic periods are often not the same as those of political history. Politically, the history divides at the XVIIth dynasty with the fall of the Hyksos, and at the XXIInd dynasty with the rise of the Delta government. But artistically the changes are under Tahutmes I, when Syrian influences broke in, and under the XXVIth dynasty, when the classical Greeks began to dominate the art.

The effect of foreign influence in art is quite apart from political power; it is due to rival activities which may or may not mean a physical domination. The reader should ponder different cases, such as those of the spiral design of early Europe entering Egypt, of the Syrian and Cretan art in the XVIIIth dynasty, of the effect of Persia upon Greece, and of Greece upon Italy (both through Magna Graecia and the conquest of Greece), of the effect of the Goth, Lombard, and Northman on Europe, and of Japan on modern Europe. Some reflection on these great artistic movements will give a little insight as to the history of art.

Regarding the illustrations, I have thought it more useful to give details large enough to be clearly seen, rather than to contract too much surface into a space where it cannot well be studied. Portions of subjects are therefore often preferred to general views of a whole. The outlines of artistic value, such as contours of faces or figures, are left quite untouched, as an outline cannot be taken seriously which is dependent on the block-maker clearing a white or black ground. This latter treatment, unfortunately, puts out of artistic use many of the lavishly spaced plates of the Cairo Catalogue, where art is subjected to bibliophily. The liberal policy of all publications and photographs of the Cairo Museum being free of copyright, has enabled me to use many of the excellent untouched photographs of Brugsch Pasha and others. My best thanks are due to Freiherr von Bissing and the publisher of his Denkmaeler Aegypt. Sculptur, for permission to use figures 39, 44, 46, 48, 62, 111, and 112 from that work. Over a third of the illustrations here are from my own photographs not yet published, and principally taken for this volume.

W. M. F. P.

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PERIODS AND KINGS REFERRED TO IN THIS VOLUME

Period.	Dynasty.	Names.	B.C.
Prehistoric.			8000-5500
Early kings.	I.	Narmer, Mena, Zer,	5500-5400
	II.	Kha-sekhem,	5000
	III.	Zeser, Senoferu,	4900-4700
Pyramid age: Old Kingdom.	IV.	Khufu, Khafra, Menkaura,	4700-4500
	V.	Nofer-ar-ka-ra, Unas,	4400-4200
	VI.	Pepy II,	4100-4000
	IX.	Khety,	3800
Middle Kingdom.	XI.	Antef V,	3500
	XII.	Senusert I, Senusert II, Senusert III,	3400-3300
		Amenemhat III,	3300-3259
	XIII.	Hor,	3200
New Kingdom.	XVIII.	Aahmes, Queens Aah-hotep, Aahmes,	1587-1562
		Tahutmes I, Tahutmes II, Hatshepsut	1541-1481
		Tahutmes III, Amenhotep II, Tahutmes IV,	1481-1414
		Amenhotep III, Akhenaten, Tut-ankh-amen,	1414-1344
	XIX.	Sety I, Ramessu II, Merenptah,	1326-1214
		Sety II, Tausert,	1214-1203
	XX.	Ramessu III, IV, XII,	1202-1129
	XXI.	Isiemkheb,	1050
	XXII.	Shishak kings,	952-749
	XXIII.	Pedubast, Pefaabast,	755-725
Ethiopian.	XXV.	Amenardys, Taharqa, Tanut-amen,	720-664
Saite.	XXVI.	Aahmes II,	570-526
	XXX.	Nekhthorheb (Nectanebo),	378-361
Ptolemies.		Cleopatra Cocce,	130-106
Romans.			30-A.D. 640

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CONTENTS

CHAP.		PAGE
1.	[THE CHARACTER OF EGYPTIAN ART]	[1]
2.	[THE PERIODS AND SCHOOLS]	[11]
3.	[THE STATUARY]	[29]
4.	[THE RELIEFS]	[48]
5.	[THE PAINTING AND DRAWING]	[55]
6.	[THE ARCHITECTURE]	[62]
7.	[THE STONE-WORKING]	[69]
8.	[JEWELLERY]	[83]
9.	[METAL WORK]	[98]
10.	[GLAZED WARE AND GLASS]	[107]
11.	[THE POTTERY]	[126]
12.	[IVORY-WORKING]	[134]
13.	[WOODWORK]	[137]
14.	[PLASTER AND STUCCO]	[142]
15.	[CLOTHING]	[147]
16.	[EGYPT’S PLACE IN THE ART OF THE WORLD]	[152]
	[INDEX]	[159]
	[BIBLIOGRAPHY]	[166]

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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Fig.	Dynasty.	Subject.	Material.	Source.	Position.	Page.
Scenery.
[1]	XVIII	Temple below cliffs.	Limestone	Deir el Bahri	Thebes.	[4]
[2]	…	Palms and canal.	…	Illahun.	Fayum.	”
Periods.
[3]	Prehist.	Dog and deer.	Ivory.	?	Petrie Coll.	[13]
[4]	”	Bull and enemy.	Slate.	?	Louvre.	”
[5]	IV	Servant of Ainofer.	Limestone.	Saqqareh.	Cairo Mus.	”
[6]	XII	Senusert I.	”	Memphis.	Carlsberg M.	”
[7]	XVIII	Servant of Kha-em-hat.	”	Tomb.	Thebes.	[19]
[8]	XIX	Sons of Ramessu II.	Sandstone.	Luqsor.	”	”
[9]	XXVI	Aahmes-si-neit-rannu.	Limestone.	Memphis.	Cambridge.	”
[10]	Ptolem.	Cleopatra Cocce.	Sandstone.	”	Kom Ombo.	”
Schools.
[11]	XIX	Ramessu II.	Black granite.	Eastern desert.	Turin.	[24]
[12]	”	”	Hard limestone.	Memphis.	Memphis.	”
[13]	”	”	Red granite.	Aswan.	Thebes.	”
[14]	”	”	Sandstone.	Nubia.	Abu Simbel.	”
Sculpture.
[15]	Prehist.	Female figure.	Ivory.	?	Petrie Coll.	[30]
[16]	”	” ”	Limestone.	Naqadeh.	Oxford Mus.	”
[17]	”	Male heads.	Ivory.	?	Petrie Coll.	”
[18]	”	Lion.	Limestone.	?	”	”
[19], [20]	I	Narmer? head; sculptor’s study.	”	?	”	[32]
[21]	I	King standing.	Ivory.	Abydos.	British Mus.	”
[22]	II	Head of Kha-sekhem.	Limestone.	Hierakonpolis.	Oxford Mus.	”
[23]	III	Head of Mertitefs.	”	?	Leyden Mus.	[33]
[24]	”	Head of Nofert.	”	Medum.	Cairo Mus.	”
[25]	IV	Head of Ka-aper.	Wood.	Saqqareh.	”	”
[26]	”	Female figure.	Wood.	”	”	”
[27]	”	Khafra.	Diorite.	Gizeh.	”	[34]
[28]	”	Head of Khafra.	Cast.	”	”	”
[29]	V	Scribe seated.	Limestone.	Saqqareh.	Louvre.	[35]
[30]	”	Family of Khui.	”	”	Cairo Mus.	”
[31]	”	Ranofer.	”	”	”	”
[32]	XII	Head of Senusert I.	”	Lisht.	”	[39]
[33]	”	” Senusert III.	Red granite.	Karnak.	”	”
[34]	?	” Sphinx.	Black granite.	Tanis.	”	”
[35]	XII	” Amenemhat III.	Grey granite.	?	Univ. Coll., Lond.	”
[36]	XVIII	” statue.	Quartzite.	Thebes.	Cairo Mus.	[42]
[37]	”	” Tahutmes III.	Basalt.	Karnak.	”	”
[38]	”	” Tut-ankh-amen.	Grey granite.	”	”	”
[39]	”	” Akhenaten.	Limestone.	Thebes.	Louvre.	”
[40]	”	Young negress.	Ebony.	?	Petrie Coll.	[43]
[41]	”	Girl on tray handle.	Wood.	?	Louvre.	”
[42]	”	Girl playing lute.	”	Sedment.	Univ. Coll., Lond.	”
[43]	XIX	Head of Ramessu II.	Black granite.	Thebes.	Turin Mus.	[44]
[44]	”	” Bak-en-khonsu.	Hard limestone.	”	Munich Mus.	”
[45]	”	” Merenptah.	Black granite.	”	Cairo Mus.	”
[46]	XXV	” Taharqa.	Black granite.	”	”	”
[47]	”	” Amenardys.	Alabaster.	”	”	[46]
[48]	”	” Mentu-em-hat.	Black granite.	Karnak.	”	”
[49]	XXX	” man (cast).	Basalt.	Memphis.	Berlin Mus.	”
[50]	Ptol.	” woman (coffin).	Wood.	?	”	”
Reliefs.
[51]	Prehist.	Hyaena and calf.	Limestone.	Koptos.	Cairo Mus.	[48]
[52]	Prehist.	Gazelles and palms.	Slate.	?	Oxford and Louvre.	”
[53]	”	Group of animals.	”	Hierakonpolis.	Oxford Mus.	”
[54]	”	Narmer and enemy.	”	Hierakonpolis.	Cairo Mus.	”
[55]	III	Ra-hesy, half length.	Wood.	Saqqareh.	”	[Front.]
[56]	V	Sacrificing bull.	Limestone.	Ty tomb.	Saqqareh.	[51]
[57]	”	Oxherd.	”	Ptah-hotep tomb.	”	”
[58]	XI	Toilet of princess.	”	Deir el Bahri.	Cairo Mus.	[52]
[59]	XII	Heads of Ptah and Senusert I.	”	Karnak.	”	”
[60]	XVIII	Hatshepsut.	”	Deir el Bahri.	Thebes.	[53]
[61]	”	Servant of Kha-em-hat.	”	Tomb.	”	”
[62]	”	Akhenaten and queen.	”	?	Berlin Mus.	”
[63]	XX	Bulls in marsh.	Sandstone.	Medinet, Habu.	Thebes.	[54]
[64]	XXVI	Youths and girls with animals.	Limestone.	Memphis.	Cairo Mus.	”
Paintings.
[65]	Prehist.	Men fighting, vase.	Pottery.	?	Petrie Coll.	[56]
[66]	”	Ship, vase.	”	?	Cairo Mus.	”
[67]	”	Ship, tomb.	Fresco.	Hierakonpolis.	”	”
[68]	III	Geese walking.	”	Medum.	”	”
[69]	XVIII	Pelicans and keeper.	”	Horemheb tomb.	Thebes.	[57]
[70]	”	Gleaning girls.	”	Menna tomb.	”	”
[71]	”	Harvesters.	”	Nekht tomb.	”	”
[72]	”	Pattern in stages.	”	Amenmes tomb.	”	[58]
[73]	”	Boating scene.	”	Menna tomb.	”	”
[74]	”	Guests and girl.	”	Nekht tomb.	”	”
[75]	”	Girl somersaulting.	Limestone.	Thebes?	Turin Mus.	[60]
[76]	”	Young princesses.	Fresco.	Tell-el-Amarna.	Oxford Mus.	”
[77]	XVIII	Man hauling rope.	Fresco.	Amenmes tomb.	Thebes.	”
[78]	”	Four races.	Rock wall.	Rames tomb.	”	”
[79]	XIX	Man adoring.	Limestone.	Thebes.	Cairo Mus.	”
[80]	”	Sety I offering to Osiris.	Rock pillar.	Tomb of Sety I.	Thebes.	”
Architecture.
[81]	IV	Temple of Khafra.	Red granite.	Gizeh.	…	[66]
[82]	XX	” Ramessu III.	Sandstone.	Medinet Habu.	Thebes.	”
[83]	Ptolem.	Temple of Ergamenes.	”	Dakkeh.	Nubia.	”
[84]	V	Palm column, Unas.	Red granite.	Saqqareh.	Cairo Mus.	[67]
[85]	”	Rose lotus capital.	Limestone.	”	”	”
[86]	”	Blue lotus capital.	”	Abusir.	”	”
Stone working.
[87]	Pre-XVIII	Stone vases.	Various.	Various.	”	[78]
[88]	XVIII	Trial piece, king’s head.	Limestone.	Thebes.	Petrie Coll.	”
[89]	?	Figure in first outlines.	Rock-crystal.	?	”	”
[90]	Ptolem.	Lion’s head in outlines.	Limestone.	?	”	”
[91]	XVIII?	Man’s head, unfinished.	”	Thebes.	”	”
[92]	Prehist.	Flint knives, etc.	Chert.	Naqadeh, etc.	”	[81]
Jewellery.
[93]	I	Bracelets, gold, turquoise.	Amethyst.	Tomb of Zer.	Cairo Mus.	[87]
[94]	VI	Chain.	Gold.	Mahasnah.	”	”
[95]	”?	Seal with hawk heads.	”	?	Petrie Coll.	”
[96]	XII	Uraeus, wire work.	”	?	”	”
[97]	”	Pectoral of Senusert II.	”	Dahshur.	Cairo Mus.	[88]
[98]	”	” ” III.	”	”	”	”
[99]	”	Inlaid crown of Khnumt.	Gold and stones.	”	”	[90]
[100]	”	Floret ”	Gold and stones.	”	”	”
[101]	”	Granulated work.	Gold.	”	”	”
[102]	XVIII	Bracelet of Aahmes.	Gold and lazuli.	Thebes.	”	[92]
[103]	XVIII	Dagger of Aahmes.	Gold and bronze.	Thebes.	Cairo Mus.	”
[104]	”	Axe of Aahmes.	Gold and bronze.	”	”	”
[105]	XIX	Pectoral of Ramessu II.	Gold and stones.	Saqqareh.	Louvre.	[94]
[106]	XX	Earrings of Ramessu XII.	Gold.	Abydos.	Cairo Mus.	”
[107]	XXV	Statuette of Hershefi.	”	Ehnasya.	Boston Mus.	”
[108]	XXVI?	Bowls from temple.	Silver.	Mendes.	Cairo Mus.	[96]
[109]	Rom.?	Chain fastening.	Gold.	?	Petrie Coll.	”
Metal-working.
[110]	VI	Head of prince.	Copper.	Hierakonpolis.	Cairo Mus.	[100]
[111]	XXV?	Bust of Takushet.	Gold in bronze.	?	Athens Mus.	”
[112]	”	” ” side.	”	?	”	”
[113]	XVIII	Flask of sandal washer.	Bronze.	?	Petrie Coll.	[101]
[114]	XIX	Fluted vases.	”	Abydos.	Cairo Mus.	”
[115]	XXII?	Anti-splash bowl.	Silver.	Bubastis.	Petrie Coll.	”
Glaze and Glass.
[116]	I	Inlaid glazes of Mena.	Green and violet glaze.	Abydos.	Brit. Mus.	[108]
[117]	XX	Lotus and grape border.	Coloured glaze.	Yehudiyeh.	Cairo Mus.	”
[118]	XXVI	Head of Isis.	Blue glaze.	?	Petrie Coll.	”
[119]	”	Royal fan-bearer.	”	?	”	”
[120]	XVIII	Dragged pattern vase.	Coloured glass.	?	British Mus.	[120]
[121]	”	””	”	?	”	”
[122]	Ptol.	Coloured mosaics.	Glass.	?	Petrie Coll.	”
Ivory.
[123]	IV	Khufu.	Ivory.	Abydos.	Cairo Mus.	[136]
[124]	VI?	Girl standing.	”	?	Petrie Coll.	”
[125]	XXVI	Lotus flower.	”	Memphis.	Edin. Mus.	”
[126]	”	Man with offerings.	”	”	”	”
Wood.
[127]	XVIII	Bracing of chair.	Wood.	Tomb of Yuaa.	Cairo Mus.	[137]
[128]	”	Chair of Sitamen.	”	”	”	”
[129]	”	Coffer of Amenhotep III.	Wood inlaid.	”	”	”
[130]	”	” ”	”	”	”	”
[131]	”	Couch of Yuaa.	Wood.	”	”	”
Plaster.
[132]	XVIII	Reliefs on chariot.	Stucco on wood.	Tomb of Tahutmes.	Cairo Mus.	[144]
[133]	Ptol.	Lion’s head, casting.	Plaster.	?	Petrie Coll.	”
[134]	”	King’s head, casting.	”	?	”	”
[135]	Roman.	Man’s head from coffin.	”	?	”	[146]
[136]	”	” ”	”	Kom el Ahmar.	Cairo Mus.	”
[137]	”	Woman’s head from coffin.	”	?	Petrie Coll.	”
[138]	”	Man’s head and skull.	”	Hu.	British Mus.	”
Clothing.
[139]	XVIII	Woven patterns, Amenhotep II.	Thread.	Tomb of Tahutmes IV.	Cairo Mus.	[148]
[140]	”	Cut-out network.	Leather.	”	”	”

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