Techniques of the Egyptian Artist.

The forms and techniques of Egyptian art are dictated by the religious and magical purpose for which it was undertaken. The idea of "art for art's sake" was not paramount in the approach of the Egyptian artist. The great pyramids were raised to protect the souls of the Pharaohs from their enemies. Tools used to build the pyramids were simple: wooden mallets, stone, drills, chisels, flint knives, wooden rulers, plumb lines, and ramps. The pyramids …

…sky and the hair of the gods; and black for the black earth, fertility, riches, and the life to come. Egyptian imagination, more than any other culture, was closely tied to the natural things in life. Egyptian art displays a genuine understanding of nature and a delight in its detail. Even those who find it difficult to appreciate the real beauty of Egyptian art can not fail to be impressed by its supreme technical mastery.