Through the Eras

Architecture and DesignBlack SeaCaspianSeaAsia MinorHITTITESMediterraneanAFRICANCreteLIBYANDESERTSeaLOWER EGYPTGizaMemphisUPPEREGYPTCyprusNile R.NileDeltaCANAANThebesRed SeaEuphrates R.SYRIANDESERTTigris R.ARABIANDESERTPersian Gulf00400 miles400 kilometersNUBIAEgypt, circa 1450 B.C.Area controlled by EgyptTrade routesEgypt, c. 1450 B.C.E. XNR PRODUCTIONS INC. GALE RESEARCH.houses and of royal palaces: the forecourt, the publicroom, and the private rooms. Multiple additions madeto important temples like Amun’s temple at Karnak oftenobscure the original plan. Thus the “standard plan”does not really refer to any one temple but to the necessarycomponent parts, and is a useful tool for analyzingindividual temples. The three parts of the standardtemple plan are an open forecourt leading to a shrinecalled the pronaos, the public room known as the hypostylehall, and the private rooms which in a temple are calledthe naos or shrine. The forecourt in a temple parallels thecourtyard immediately beyond the gateway in an Egyptianhouse. The pronaos in a temple parallels the typicalvestibule in a house, while the hypostyle hall is usuallyshaped as a broad hall, wider than it is long. These areparallel to similarly shaped public rooms in a house. The46 Arts and Humanities Through the Eras: Ancient Egypt (2675 B.C.E.–332 B.C.E.)