Oral Stories and Art History

Oral Poems

Sculpture of Nefertiti Bust [5]

       Even though Egypt has many hieroglyphics that serve as their written history, we are still able to see history from other sources. Ancient Egypt is overwhelmed with all types of stories, and not just those written in hieroglyphics. The people of Egypt were very intentional when it came to remembering the past, and telling future generations about things that were happening. One way that history was passed down through the generations was oral storytelling, specifically poetry. People would recite memorized poetry as a way to express wisdom, thought, images, and monologue [1]. Much of these oral tales stressed the importance of having the right amount of syllables, stressed units, and exact verses [1]. This makes it harder for today’s society to enjoy these oral poems from long ago, as we no longer appreciate such lyrical eloquence. Some of the popular oral tales from Ancient Egypt include The Flower Song, The Crossing, and The Harper's Song for Inherkhawy [2]

Sculptures for Pharaoh

Sculptor of a Pharaoh

Another way that we can see the history of Egypt through non-written sources is by the figures that sculptors frequently made. Craftsmen were constantly set with the tasks, from making small idols, to designing large sculptures of Pharaohs, gods, and the afterlife. In many burial rooms, there are statues of a “king in well-defined attitudes, namely seated, to receive the offerings; standing, to appear, perform ceremonies, and be accompanied by deities; or kneeling, to present the necessary offerings to the gods” [3]. Such figurines offer people today a glimpse into what worth they put on Pharaohs in Egypt. It relays the idea that pharaohs were of highest importance in the Egyptian realm, and that their afterlife journey was just as important. Burial sites help many historians see the significance 

Religious Art

Garment made by the Coptic Church

Baptismal basin frequently used in Muslim Mosques

  

The last way that Egyptians carried over their history is through beautiful pieces of art, hand crafted to last a lifetime. This art helps us see today the religious beliefs of many ancient Egyptians, and allows us to understand better the values they had thousands of years ago. Early Coptic Christians would use art as a way to display Christian’s values and belief system, but would even more commonly be used to celebrate life. Garments would be ornamented with strips of intricate design, colors, and images. [4] Islam was also a growing religion in Egypt at the time. Artists would be commissioned to design and make Islamic designs that depended on shape, division, lines, and geometry [4]. This art was commonly used on ritual basins within mosques, and even seen in Muslim houses of the day.  Many basins were inlaid with silver, showing the true importance of rituals within the Islamic religion [4].

Even without writing, today we are still able to find much of what Egypt was like thousands of years ago. Through oral poetry, sculptures of pharaohs, and religious art, the history of ancient Egypt is clearly displayed. Without these sources of history, part of ancient Egypt would be lost, not in literature, but in the physical realm. We wouldn’t have such amazing artifacts that reveal what everyday life was like for both the Egyptian citizen and Pharaoh. 

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[1] Parkinson, R. P. The Tale of Sinuhe and Other Ancient Egyptian Poems. Oxford: Oxford Press, 1997.

[2] "Ancient Egyptian Love Poems Reveal a Lust for Life." National Geographic. Accessed April 01, 2016. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/04/0416_040416_pyramidsongs_2.html.

[3] Lloyd, Alan B. A Companion to Ancient Egypt. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. 

[4] Cole, Herbert M., Robin Poynor, and Monica Blackmun Visona. A History of Art in Africa. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Hall, 2008

      [5] Pickart, Philip. Neferiti Bust. November, 2009. Nofretete Neues Museum.