Themes > Arts > Painting > Painting before 1300 > Egyptian Painting > Understanding Egyptian Art

As far as we know, the ancient Egyptians had no understanding of the meaning of "art" like we do today. Their reason for art was based solely on "funerary, religious, and secular needs" (Vassilika, 1). Artists certainly did flourish all over Egypt, but only "'statue,' 'stela,' and 'tomb'" made the vocabulary of this culture (Robins, 12). "Egypt, like all other nations of antiguity, was profoundly influenced by magic, by a belief in the existance of all-pervading, invisible and superhuman forces that had to be secured, or neutralized if their enmity was to be avoided" (Aldred, 11). Not only was this fact important, but so was their strong belief in the afterlife. In many paintings, these beliefs are interpreted on tombs, walls of pyramids and dwellings, papyrus, written documents,etc. Your journey through this educational web site will briefly present to you the designs and styles of Ancient Egyptian Paintings.

To first understand Egyptians lifestyle, you must comprehend the Chronology:
5000-2920 Predynastic Period
2920-2649 Early Dynastc Period
2649-2134 Old Kingdon
2134-2040 First Intermediate Period
2040-1640 Middle Kingdom
1640-1532 Second Intermediate Kingdom
1550-1070 New Kingdom
1070-712 Third Intermediate Period
712-332 Late Period
332bc-ad395 Graeco-Roman Period

Information provided by: http://tiger.towson.edu