Architecture of Egypt

Architecture of Egypt is among one of the rich and best architectures of the world. Whether it is about monument architecture or the architecture of temple, Egypt has its own uniqueness and identity in this culture field.

Pyramids are the main example of ancient Egyptian architecture. These are the most notable and lasting achievements of architecture of ancient Egypt. Pyramids were the great monuments and tombs of the Egyptian kings. The largest pyramids that are in existence till the present time are the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza and the Great Sphinx.

The Great Pyramid measures 481 feet high, by 775 feet long at each of its four bases. Unusual to the form of pyramid architecture, the Great Sphinx is a symbol of strength of the Ancient Necropolis of Giza and of the King. Roughly 4,636 years old, The Great Sphinx dated from the time of the Fourth dynasty.

Another remarkable example of Egyptian architecture can be achieved from its temples. The two perfect examples of Egyptian temple architecture are the Temple of Karnak and the Luxor Temple. Located on the banks of Nile River about 2.5 km north of Luxor, the temple complex of Karnak consists of four main chambers, the Precinct of Amon-Re, the Precinct of Montu, the Precinct of Mut and the Temple of Amenhotep IV.

Located on the east banks of Nile river, Luxor temple is the largest ancient Egyptian temple complex. Uniqueness about Luxor Temple lies in its two pharaohs that leave their mark on its architectural structure.

Beside these architectural structure there are other significant structures also that contributed more gems in architecture of Egypt. Among these Hatshepsut's Temple, Sultan Hassan Mosque, Temple of Amon and many more are the famous.

The uniqueness of Egyptian architecture lies in its building materials used for the construction of these monuments. Because of the lack of wood, the two dominant building materials used by the Egyptian were the unbaked mud-brick and stone. From the Old Kingdom onwards stone was usually used for the construction of tombs and temples while bricks were for palaces, fortresses, for the walls of temple and towns and for subsidiary construction in temple complexes. Architects planned carefully as they had to build them without the use of mortar. Only pillars were used to sustain stone supports. The largeness of the tomb depended mainly on the lifespan of the king. The architecture was usually based on perpendicular structures and inclined planes. Square and the plumb lines were very important tools in making structures.