Egyptian Art and Architecture

The Egyptians created their art and architecture to affirm a distinctive social, political, and religious system. After the Roman conquest of Egypt, Alexandria became an important center of Christianity, and what Christians regarded as pagan art ceased to be produced. Existing monuments were viewed negatively and their images defaced. The Arab conquest of Egypt in ad 640 brought a new language (Arabic) as well as new cultural and religious traditions. This event removed the Egyptians even further from their ancient past.

Although curiosity about ancient Egypt never died out completely in Europe, there was little informed knowledge about it. Renewed interest in Egypt during the 18th century led to the use of Egyptian motifs in art and architecture. Notable for their incorporation of these motifs were Italian graphic artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi, Scottish-born architect Robert Adam, English potter Josiah Wedgwood, and English furniture designer Thomas Sheraton.

European interest in Egypt reached a peak after the invasion of the country by French general Napoleon Bonaparte in 1798. With his invading forces, Napoleon brought along a group of scholars whose task was to study Egypt, ancient and modern. The result was Description de l'Égypte, published between 1809 and 1828. This massive work contained many illustrations of temples, statues, and reliefs. Napoleon's expedition also discovered the Rosetta Stone. Inscriptions on the stone in three languages—Greek, Demotic (a late form of the Egyptian language and script), and hieroglyphs—provided the key that enabled French scholar Jean-François Champollion to decipher hieroglyphic script. His success, in turn, led to the beginnings of modern Egyptology.

During the 19th century, scholars collected and studied inscriptions and texts on monuments throughout Egypt. Besides Champollion, Egyptologists included Ippolito Rosellini of Italy and Karl Richard Lepsius of Germany. Collectors of antiquities brought Egyptian reliefs, statues, coffins, papyri, and other items to Europe, where they constitute the basis of major museum collections. European artists and architects incorporated Egyptian motifs in paintings, decorative arts, and monumental architecture. During the 20th century, scholars from Europe and the United States together with their Egyptian colleagues worked to excavate, record, and conserve the monuments of ancient Egypt under the supervision of the Egyptian Antiquities Service, later called the Supreme Council for Antiquities.

In addition to excavation and collection, scholars and the Egyptian government have taken increasing care to save Egyptian artifacts from destruction caused by development. Perhaps the biggest effort occurred in the 1960s, when the Aswān High Dam was built, causing a large area to be flooded by newly created Lake Nasser. A massive rescue campaign was undertaken to excavate the area before it was flooded. The two temples of Ramses II at Abū Simbel and the Ptolemaic and Roman temples on the island of Philae were moved to higher ground and saved. Though this is the most dramatic example, numerous such measures of conservation occurred throughout the late 20th century. These efforts remain a top priority in Egypt.