Image Gallery
Predynastic Period Vessel from Egypt
Terracotta vessel from the Predynastic Period in Egypt, c. 4500-3100 BCE.
From the late Predynastic Period onward, the Egyptians used painted, incised, and polished pottery in life and as burial accessories for both the rich and the poor. The abundance of funerary pottery found in early Egyptian pit graves indicates trade along the Nile River with Near Eastern cultures and other African cultures to the south. These vessels held both local and foreign appeal, displaying characteristics found in both regions.
Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts at Stanford University, Stanford, California.
Questions & Answers
How long was ancient Egypt art produced?
- Ancient Egyptian art was created from the Predynastic Period (c. 6000 to c. 3150 BCE) through the Ptolemaic Period (323-30 BCE) and even into the era of Roman Egypt (30 BCE-646 CE).
What was the purpose of ancient Egyptian art?
- Ancient Egyptian art was primarily functional - it served a practical purpose - but it was still crafted to be aesthetically pleasing.
What types of art did the ancient Egyptians produce?
- The ancient Egyptians produced all kinds of art from statuary to jewelry to ceramics, paintings, drawings, figurines, everyday household items, clothing, dog collars, and ornamentation for tombs, temples, and monuments.
What is the most famous artwork from ancient Egypt?
- The most famous artwork from ancient Egypt is the Great Sphinx of Giza followed by the bust of Queen Nefertiti and the golden death mask of Tutankhamun.
Add External Link
External Links
Ten Works of Ancient Egyptian Art You Should Know About
manchesterlibrary.org
Egyptian Art | The Metropolitan Museum of Art
metmuseum.org
