This article endeavours to highlight how Ancient Egyptian civilization influenced modern architecture through analysis of material usage, form, and structure in Egyptology, which refers to Ancient Egyptian buildings as ‘bearers of meaning’ (Arnold, 2022, p.12).
The Influence of ‘Maat’ in Ancient Egyptian Architecture:
Maat, or Ma’at, is a principle that has been used in many social and religious connotations within Ancient Egypt, with it referring to ‘justice’ but also ‘order’ and ‘harmony’ (Ferguson, 2016, p.2). Viewing this through the architectural lens, one can see how this principle is observed in the structures through visual continuity and proportionality, acting as a reflection towards a certain culture that suggests that order and harmony were determined by the gods. This ties in well with how Ancient Egyptian architects regarded buildings as an ‘accumulation of parts’ (Arnold, 2022, p.97). Perhaps, this is due to the fact that, if the buildings were viewed as ‘single entities’ (Arnold, 2022, p.97) then there would not be individual parts for a balance to exist between architectural elements, such as light and shadow. And, if there is not a balance, then the concept of order and harmony isn’t present. One example of how order and harmony have been sustained through architecture is the Egyptian Obelisk (Mark, 2024).
The religious significance of obelisks is demonstrated through the fact that these structures are ‘always raised in pairs’ (Mark, 2024) suggesting aspects of balance between heaven and earth, hence reiterating the order and harmony within Ancient Egyptian architecture. In the modern era, obelisks have predominantly been used in memoriam or monumentally, with a prominent example being The Washington Monument, commemorating the first president of the United States, George Washington.
The Egyptian Revival and Egyptomania:
Developed after the discovery of the Rosetta Stone and Napolean Bonaparte’s Egyptian campaigns in 1798 (Buchanan, 2022), Egyptomania was a product of the Western world’s fascination with exotic imports. Similar to Orientalism, the attitudes towards Egyptomania were a result of the lack of knowledge people had about Egypt, and their inability to travel and explore the country, due to affordability, which culminated in acknowledging the Egyptian culture through literature and architecture (Schutz, n.d). During the Victorian era, Egyptomania was present in strengthening religion and attitudes towards imperialism. For example, The Temple Mill, located in Leeds, was constructed in 1840 with its façade showcasing columns and ornate details – these implementations were perhaps an endeavour for aristocrats and merchants to associate themselves with status, authority and power (Gouck, 2022).
Discovering the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922 led to the second phase of Egyptomania, which once again, created an appreciation towards Egyptian motifs and aesthetics, albeit to a new generation of people, thus influencing the Art Deco movement (Roberts, n.d). An architectural example of this would be The Hoover Building, located in West London, designed in the 1930s. Although the building was initially intended to function as a factory, the ‘gleaming white cement’ (Burman, 2023) accompanied by the turquoise and red colour palette, as well as the gold detailing, contrasts its initial function. Some may view the transformation of Egyptomania into the Art Deco movement as an example of eclectic novelty, however, The Hoover Building, due to its mere mass, displays a certain grandeur, with the interiors of The Hoover Building appearing to be quite clinical and intimidating, due to the prevalence of white architectural elements, but simultaneously intriguing. Thus, resulting in a certain curiosity and fascination, as one feels intrigued to explore the building not only at eye level but at elevated heights too.
The Significance of The Pyramid Shape:
Mathematically, the alignment of the square base of the pyramid structure to the four cardinal points provides strong structural stability, however, in particular, the alignment of the structure from north to south simultaneously emphasised a religious belief: transporting the soul of the pharaoh to the afterlife. Furthermore, the general form of the pyramid shape symbolised the ‘descending rays of the sun’ (Our Ancestories, 2023), perhaps as an act of devotion towards the Egyptian Sun God, Ra. In modern times, the use of the pyramid has been implemented in contemporary structures such as The Louvre, which has more of a mathematical and practical justification for using the pyramid form, rather than religious or astronomical meaning. The architect of the Louvre, I.M. Pei suggested that the pyramid converged to a single apex vertically, allowing it to be ‘one of the least intrusive shapes’ (Rost Architects, 2023) to be used.
In summary, the influence of Ancient Egyptian architecture on modern architecture has been visible in the two phases of Egyptomania and the Egyptian Revival, reflecting the fascination that contemporary society had on Egyptian culture. But, more significantly, the ideology and the relevant symbolism displayed in Ancient Egyptian architecture, such as order and harmony in Maat, over time, has inherently become a medium to translate status and power into authoritative and grandiose structures.
References:
- Arnold, F. (2022) Ancient Egyptian Architecture in Fifteen Monuments. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press. Available at: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=3197265&site=ehost-live&scope=site [Accessed: 22 November 2024].
- Buchanan, M. (2022). Egyptomania: Looking Back at Ancient Egyptian Culture [online] Available at: https://noma.org/egyptomania-looking-back-at-ancient-egyptian-culture/ [Accessed 22 November 2024]
- Burman, S. (2023). Vacuum Pact [online] Available at: https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/hoover-building-london [Accessed 22 November 2024]
- Ferguson, R.J. (2016) The ancient Egyptian concept of Maat: Reflections on social justice and natural order CEWCES Research Papers. Paper 13. Available at: http://epublications.bond.edu.au/cewces_papers/13 [Accessed 22 November 2024]
- Gouck, M. (2022). Victorian Egyptomania: Why Was England So Obsessed With Egypt? [online] Available at: https://www.thecollector.com/victorian-egyptomania/ [Accessed 22 November 2024]
- Mark, J.J. (2024) A Gallery of Ancient Egyptian Architecture [online] Available at: https://www.worldhistory.org/collection/253/a-gallery-of-ancient-egyptian-architecture/ [Accessed 22 November 2024]
- Our Ancestories. (2023). Unraveling the Mathematical Genius of Ancient Egyptian Pyramids [online] Available at: https://our-ancestories.com/en-gb/blogs/news/unraveling-the-mathematical-genius-of-ancient-egyptian-pyramids [Accessed 22 November 2024]
- Roberts, J. (n.d) Art Deco’s fascination with Ancient Egypt [online] Available at: https://www.understanding-jewellery.com/articles/art-decos-fascination-with-ancient-egypt/ [Accessed 22 November 2024]
- Rost Architects. (2023). The Story Behind The Architecture And Construction of The Louvre Museum [online] Available at: https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2023/1/6/the-louvre [Accessed 22 November 2024]
- Schutz, M. (n.d). What is Egyptomania? [online] Available at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/what-is-egyptomania [Accessed 22 November 2024]
Image URLs:
- https://www.worldhistory.org/Egyptian_Obelisk/
- https://www.historyhit.com/locations/the-washington-monument/
- https://www.thecollector.com/victorian-egyptomania/
- https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/hoover-building-london
- https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/hoover-building-london
- https://www.rostarchitects.com/articles/2023/1/6/the-louvre
