ART 263 / MAN 263
The Business of Art

The pyramids of ancient Egypt, enormous tombs for the pharaohs (definition: Egyptian kings, believed to be immortal gods, also. Some of the most famous pharaohs are: Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, Ramses II and Tutankhamen), believed to be immortal, are thought by many to be the ultimate in kingly pride. The three great pyramids in Giza, Egypt were built as tombs for the pharaohs Khufu (a.k.a. Cheops, reigned 2601 - 2578 B.C.), Khafre (a.k.a. Chefren, reigned 2570 - 2544 B.C.) and Menkaure (a.k.a. Mycerinus, reigned 2533 - 2515 B.C.). The oldest and largest pyramid, the great pyramid of Khufu is roughly 450 (originally about 480) feet tall. It is about 780 feet from end to end, covers roughly 13 acres of land, and was constructed of about 2,300,000 stones weighing an average of 2.5 tons each.

Each pyramid took as long as twenty to thirty years to build. When a pharaoh commenced his reign, he would start to build his tomb, in the hope that it would be completed by the time of his death. In this picture we see the Pyramid of Mycerinus (c. 2500 B.C.), the Pyramid of Chefren (c. 2530 B.C.) and the Pyramid of Cheops (c. 2570 B.C.) all located in Giza, Egypt.

It used to be thought that the pyramids were built by slave labor. (The Bible tells us of the time that the Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt. Their time of enslavement, however, would only cover a small portion of the years that it took to build the pyramids.) Excavations in recent years, however, have uncovered the remains of housing of the workers, near the pyramids. It is now believed that tens of thousands of laborers worked, for pay, under the auspices of the pharaoh to build the great pyramids. This great public works program would have helped to keep the Egyptian economy healthy.

Early on, art was overseen by high priests, and architects were priests. Many of the craftsmen, even, were priests in local cults. During the New Kingdom, the Overseers of All the Works of the King directed craftsmen on Royal building projects. The king’s stewards also directed laborers and craftsmen.

Workmen who were directed by the architects and master craftsmen generally worked in studios attached to the palaces or temples, or within royal residences. Egyptian arts and crafts were highly specialized, and can be identified as stonemasons, sculptors, draftsmen, goldsmiths, painters and jewelers.

Other examples of Egyptian royal patronage include the Stepped Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest known building of stone, the temples of Ramses II, The funerary temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and the tomb goods of King Tutankhamen (King Tut). The burial mask of the pharaoh Tutankhamun (King Tut) can be seen in this photograph. Ancient Egypt was a wealthy and powerful African civilization.

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