Articles | Open Access |

THE ART OF APPEARANCE: PHYSICAL FEATURES IN WALL SCENES OF THE OLD AND MIDDLE KINGDOMS

Kareem Shafik , The Higher Institute Of Tourism And Hotels (Egoth), Luxor, Egypt

Abstract

This study examines the representation of physical features in wall scenes from the Old and Middle Kingdoms of ancient Egypt, exploring how artistic depictions reflect societal attitudes towards identity and status. Focusing on wall paintings and carvings found in tombs and temples, the research analyzes how distinct physical attributes—such as body size, facial characteristics, and attire—were portrayed and what these representations reveal about social hierarchies and cultural values. By comparing artworks from both periods, the study highlights differences and continuities in the depiction of physical features, offering insights into how artistic conventions evolved and how they were influenced by religious, political, and social factors. The findings suggest that while certain physical features were idealized across both periods, there were notable shifts in their representation that correspond to changes in societal norms and artistic practices. This analysis not only sheds light on the aesthetic and symbolic aspects of ancient Egyptian art but also provides a deeper understanding of how physical appearance was used to convey status, roles, and identities in ancient Egyptian society.

Keywords

Ancient Egyptian art, physical features, wall scenes

References

Altenmüller, H., Die Wanddarstellungen im Grab des Mehu in Saqqara (Philipp von Zabern, Mainz, 1998).

Anthony, F. B. Foreigners in Ancient Egypt: Theban Tomb Paintings from the Early Eighteenth Dynasty (Bloomsbury Publishing, London, 2016).

Blackman, A. M., The Rock Tombs of Meir 1 (Egypt Exploration Fund, London, 1914).

Blackman, A. M., The Rock Tombs of Meir 3 (Egypt Exploration Fund, London, 1915).

Davies, N. de G., The Rock Tombs of Deir el-Gebrâwi 1 (Egypt Exploration Fund, London, 1902).

Duell, P., The Mastabe of Mereruka (The University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1938).

Erman, A. and Grapow, H., Wörterbuch der ägyptischen Sprache 2 (Akademie - Verlag, Berlin, 1971).

Faulkner, R. O., A Concise Dictionary of Middle Egyptian (Griffith Institute, Oxford,1972).

Harpur, Y. and Scremin, P., The Chapel of Ptahhotep, Scene Details (Oxford Expedition to Egypt, Oxford, 2008).

Junker, H., Gîza 2 (Hölder-Pichler-Tempsky A.G., Vienna, 1934).

Kamal, S. M., „Baldness scenes in ancient Egyptian private tombs; as an indicator of social class, activity and physical ability‟, International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, vol. 2, issue 2 (2019), 127-179.

Kanawati, N. and Hassan, A., The Teti Cemetery at Saqqara 2 (Aris and Phillips, Warminster, 1997).

Kanawati, N., The Teti Cemetery at Saqqara 8 (Aris and Phillips, Oxford, 2006).

Macramallah, R., Le mastaba d’Idout (IFAO, Cairo, 1935).

Article Statistics

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Copyright License

Download Citations

How to Cite

THE ART OF APPEARANCE: PHYSICAL FEATURES IN WALL SCENES OF THE OLD AND MIDDLE KINGDOMS. (2024). International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 4(04), 1-5. https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijthm/article/view/1301