Egyptian Middle Kingdom

2030-1640 BCE

Credit to Gardner’s Art Through The Ages 12th Ed.

Middle Kingdom 2030-1640 BCE

• After the civil wars that took place at the end of the Old Kingdom, Upper and Lower Egypt were united again under a single king, this time by Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II

• Thebes served as the capital and artistic center of the country during this kingdom

• Dynasties 11-13• However, this was considered the “dark ages”

of Egypt due to the chaos of foreign invaders

Thebes

Mentuhotep II

Senusret III

• Senusret III was Mentuhotep II’s successor• Fought 4 brutal military campaigns in Nubia• Never fully secured control over Nubia• However, did establish a more powerful

central government in Egypt

Nubia = Today’s Sudan

Senusret III

• His portraits show a change in Egyptian art away from the style of the Old Kingdom:– More realistic– Emotions are more accurately portrayed• Portray his anxiety, pessimism, sadness that came with

being a ruler during these dark times

Senusret III

Middle Kingdom Art

• The major architectural accomplishment during this time was Mentuhotep’s mortuary complex

• Cut into the bedrock near cliffs in western Thebes

• Terraced temple with pillared porticoes• Very unique for its time• Included painted reliefs of ceremonial scenes

and hieroglyphic texts

Reconstruction of the Original Complex

Although this complex was used for several centuries after Mentuhotep II’s death, it waseventually severely damagedby an Earthquake

What it looks like now:THIS is Mentuhotep II’s mortuary complex at Deir el-Bahri…

The bigger, more impressiveone is for Hatshepsut (literally,The Woman Who Would Be King)which was built during theNew Kingdom

She was the first greatfemale monarch whose name was ever recorded

She ruled for 2 decades!

Relief of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II (detail), Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 11, ca. 2051–2000 B.C., Painted limestone; H. 14 1/8 in.

Painted relief carving from Mentuhotep II’s mortuary complex

Cosmetic Jar in the Form of a Cat, Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, ca. 1991–1783 B.C., Egyptian alabaster (calcite) with inlaid eyes

of rock crystal and copper; H. 5 1/2 in.

Egyptians were known for domesticating cats

This is the first known 3D artwork of a cat

It was a cosmetic jar meant to hold scented oil

Incredibly lifelike: looks like a tense, alert, hunter

The eyes are made of rock crystal with drill holes at the back that were filled with pigment, creating a startlingly lifelike impression

The eye sockets were lined with copper, which corroded to form a heavy green rim

Pectoral of Princess Sit–Hathor–yunet (detail), Middle Kingdom, Dynasty 12, reigns of Senwosret II–Amenemhat III, ca. 1887–

1813 B.C., Gold, carnelian, feldspar, garnet, turquoise

Middle Kingdom jewelershad incredible skill

This served as a necklace forPrincess Sit–Hathor–yunet

The two falcons with sun-disks = Sun god Re

Ankh = symbol for life

Mummification

• Just for fun, as mummification was a standard practice at this point in Egyptian history, here’s what the process of mummification entailed:

Mummification

• Mummification was not systematically practiced until the 4th dynasty

• 10 week process• Surgical removal of the lungs, liver, stomach, and

intestines through an incision in the left flank– Thought to be most subject to decay

• They were individually wrapped an placed in 4 containers (canopic jars) to put in the burial chamber with the corpse

Mummification

• Brain is sucked out through the nose and discarded– Egyptians did not attach any special significance to

the brain!• Heart was left in place– Egyptians believed it was the base of intelligence

• Body was treated for 40 days with natron:– A natural salt compound that dehydrates the body

Mummification

• Corpse was filled with resin-soaked linens• Embalming incision was closed and covered

with a representation of the wedjat eye of Horus, an amulet, to ward off evil

Mummification

• Body is treated with lotions and resins • Wrapped tightly in hundreds of yards of linen

bandages to maintain its shape • Other amulets, like scarabs (gems in the shape

of beetles) would be placed either in the linens or on the corpse with spells written on them to return the heart to its owner if it were ever lost

Heart Scarabs: Placed on the chest of the mummy

Mummification

• Often, a scroll copy of the Book of the Dead was placed between the legs of the corpse – It contained 200 spells to protect the mummy and

the ka in the afterlife

Mummification

• Mummies of the wealthy had their faces covered with gilded funerary masks

• Mummification endured for thousands of years – Even when Egypt was ruled by the Greeks and later

by the Romans – Valley of the Golden Mummies:

• 1996 discovery at Bahariya Oasis in the desert of southwest Cairo

• Evidence this necropolis was used as late as 300-400 CE

What goes in the tomb with the Mummy?

• Food• Drink• Clothing• Utensils• Small statues called “ushabtis” (answerers)– To perform any labor required of the deceased in

the afterlife– Answer whenever his or her name is called

Mummification

• In case the mummy disintegrated, images of the deceased were painted on the walls of the tomb – To preserve identity – Continue to provide a place for the ka (spirit)– To ensure immortality