In this course we will explore the rich narrative of Egyptian representations, both in two and three dimensions. We will consider different genres, when and where they appear and what we can learn from them. Woven into this will be a review of literature, both religious and secular, which will aid our understanding of the images and objects. The techniques used to produce the representations will be examined, alongside changes in style and design from the Predynastic to the Greco-Roman period. The functionality of the images and objects will be at the heart of the discourse, as the ancient Egyptians did not value the aesthetic in its own right, and much of what we consider ‘art’ was created for the cult of the king, the worship of the gods, or for the benefit of the deceased. However, we will examine what these images and objects can tell us about life and death in ancient Egypt. We will study a variety of mediums, which form the rich tapestry of Egyptian representations.
Part 2
Week 1 – Friday 14th November 10.30am, repeated Tuesday 18th November 7pm
The Seascape: The Nile and the Great Green
Week 2 – Friday 21st November 10.30am, repeated Tuesday 25th November 7pm
The Cosmos: The Heavens and the Netherworld
Week 3 – Friday 28th November 10.30am, repeated Tuesday 2nd December 7pm
Action Scenes: Narrative Art
Week 4 – Friday 5th December 10.30am, repeated Tuesday 9th December 7pm
Battle Scenes: The Art of Combat
Week 5 – Friday 12th December 10.30am, repeated Tuesday 16th December 7pm
The Animal Kingdom: The Glories of Nature
Articles and links will be sent out after each lecture as appropriate.
