Ancient Egyptian Architecture in Fifteen Monuments

Felix Arnold is scientific director of the Madrid branch of the German Archaeological Institute, and an architect and archaeologist specialized in the history of Egyptian architecture of both the pharaonic and Islamic periods. The son of two Egyptologists, he grew up in Egypt, and since receiving his PhD from the University of Karlsruhe, Germany, he has conducted fieldwork in Spain, Syria, Ukraine, and Egypt, where he has directed excavations at Dahshur, Elephantine, and many other sites.

• IntroductionTimeline of Egyptian History and the Buildings Discussed in this BookPart I. Subduing the Forces of Nature and the Founding of a State1. The per-wer: Harnessing Animal-Power2. The Shunet al-Zebib: Power by Separation3. The Djoser-Complex: Model Architecture4. The Bent Pyramid: Bodies in Light5. The Temple of Sahure: Imitating NaturePart II. Moral Responsibility and the Construction of Society6. The hut-ka-Chapel at Bubastis: Simple Construction7. The Temple of Mentuhotep II: Opening Space8. The White Chapel: Striving for Perfection9. The Labyrinth: Cultivating Choice10. Hatshepsut’s Thebes: Creating LandscapesPart III. Erected Demarcations and the Emergence of Religious Communities11. The Great Aten-Temple: The Sky is the Limit12. The Great Hypostyle Hall: Projected Power13. The Temple at Tanis: Segregation by Purity14. The Naos of Mendes: Space Compacted15. The Edfu Temple: Space AssembledAncient Egyptian Architecture: A SummaryGlossarySuggested ReadingAcknowledgments

"Felix Arnold has given us great insight into the mystery of ancient Egypt's built environment through fifteen examples spanning three millennia."—Zahi Hawass“This authoritatively written overview of Egyptian architecture from the point of view of an archaeologist and architectural historian elucidates the social meanings of built space through insightful analyses that reflect a broad understanding of trends and a deep knowledge of the specialist literature. Arnold presents some fascinating insights that will be new to most readers, providing in some instances completely new theories and a fresh perspective.”—Stephen Harvey, Director, Ahmose and Tetisheri Project, Abydos“No medium is better suited than architecture to express the spirit of a culture—its ideas about the divine, the dead, the other world, political organization—in the transformations of its multi-millennial development. Felix Arnold succeeds, in this brilliantly written and beautifully illustrated analysis, in disclosing the spirit of ancient Egypt and its development through fifteen selected monuments of great architecture.”—Jan Assmann, Heidelberg University“With clean lines, Felix Arnold distills the essence of fifteen masterpieces of ancient Egyptian architecture from the inherent complexities of their archaeological settings. In succinct prose, as elegant as his drawings, he also conveys something of the people behind these monuments, their history, and countryside. As the book reveals an interplay between symbol and setting over an evolution of design, from the prehistoric Per Wer hut to the Karnak Hypostyle and beyond, it gets us to the point of each masterpiece, showing how each contributed to that evolution, and how each was unique. Student and professor alike will gain from Arnold’s insightful, interpretive introduction.”—Mark Lehner, Ancient Egypt Research Associates"Provides light reading for a topic that is complex and often dense. I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in an overview of the subject matter."—Scott Williams, Chartered Institute for Archaeologists