The history of Egypt covers about 5 millennia, during which the birth of civilization took place on its territory, the rise of the Greeks and Romans, the development of the Jewish, Christian and Islamic religions, the colonial period, when first France and then England ruled the country, and finally the return to independence. Egypt has played an important cultural role at all times, and now on its territory you can find architectural monuments that cover the history of mankind from its inception to the present day.
Ancient Egypt architecture
The tombs and pyramids of Ancient Egypt were built according to the principle of scale - pillars made of raw bricks, on which the masonry was located - brick or stone. All pyramids are characterized by a four-sided shape that symbolizes eternity. The oldest is the pyramid of Djoser, the highest is the pyramid of Cheops. The pyramids represent the spirit of Egyptian culture, belief in the afterlife and power of the pharaoh, and the Egyptians' vision of the universe.
Examples of New Kingdom architecture in Egypt include a large number of temples. For example, the Hatshepsut temple belongs to the half-rock temples, which have ground premises and a prayer house carved into the rock. It was during the period of the New Kingdom that the architecture of ancient Egypt reached its heyday, the temple was built at Karnak, which is the largest temple with columns in the world and became the canon for the following buildings. Its features are large halls, a huge number of chapels and unsurpassed beauty of painting that encompasses the space, including the outer walls and the ceiling, which is a symbol of the sky and is therefore painted blue and painted with golden stars. An indispensable attribute of the temple, according to the canons of Egyptian architecture, is an obelisk and a sacred lake.
Residential buildings in Egypt were built from materials such as reed, wood, and clay. The dwelling served only as a shelter and protection from the wind. The architecture of Egypt had a number of peculiarities - the Egyptians did not use stone in the construction of residential buildings, as they believed that this material was intended for the dead. It was from it that the majestic pyramids were built, which amaze with the clarity of geometric shapes and scale.
Egyptian architecture in the Middle Ages
In the Middle Ages, Egypt begins to regain its former power. The country begins to trade with Western Europe and Byzantium. Cairo is becoming one of the major cultural capitals of the world, therefore it is in this city that you can observe the best architectural monuments of Egypt of the Middle Ages. The Amra Mosque was built in the 7th century and is one of the earliest examples of columnar mosques. This building is a wide courtyard with a fountain surrounded by a colonnade. In the 9th century, the Ibn Tulun mosque was built, which was located in the residence of the first ruler of Egypt, who became independent from the Baghdad Caliphate. The peculiarity of this mosque is that it contains not traditional round, but square columns. All cornices and columns are decorated with carved floral patterns. The mosque is made in a single ornamental style, which gives the building a special atmosphere. Outside, the building is well fortified and echoes the style of medieval fortress architecture.
Also in the middle of the 9th century is the building, which is the earliest surviving monument of Egyptian civil architecture of the Middle Ages. This is Nilometer, which is located near Fustat on the island of Roda. This building is a well, in the middle of which is a column, with which the Egyptians measured the water level in the Nile River.
In the 10th century, cities began to upset and expand very actively. And the 13-15th century was for Egypt both a period of power and a time of strong social contradictions. The architecture shows the motives of the cultures of Asia and Western Europe. This is the time for new architectural solutions. The style of Egyptian architecture is becoming more complex, domes, portals and monoliths of high walls are becoming fashionable. Simplicity and consistency are replaced by grandeur and solemnity. An example of a building from that period of Egyptian architecture is the maristan of Kalawna, which consists of a mosque, a mausoleum and a hospital. Another striking example of the architecture of that time is the Hasan Mosque, built in the 14th century. This building, thanks to its layout, huge arches, accentuated geometrism and cubicity, creates a feeling of majesty and power.
In Egypt, you can find architectural monuments of different eras, religions and peoples, which together create a unique Egyptian style that causes admiration and delight.