Through the Eras

GlossaryMemphis: City in Lower (northern) Egypt, traditional politicalcapital of Egypt since the beginning of the FirstDynasty (3000–2800 B.C.E.). In the city there is theTemple of Ptah. The pyramids of Giza and Saqqara arenearby.Middle Kingdom: The period of Egyptian history from2008 to 1630 B.C.E. characterized by a strong centralgovernment at Memphis.Migdol: A small square tower used in fortified positions.Naos: An inner room in a temple where the statue of thegod was located.Nemes: A royal kerchief worn only by the king.Netjer: “God”; a term used to refer to a deceased king becomingOsiris, the divine king of the dead.Netjer Nefer: “Good God” or “Perfect Youthful God”; aterm used to describe the king as the god Amun’s juniorpartner.New Kingdom: The period of Egyptian history from1539–1075 B.C.E. characterized by territorial expansionas far as Mesopotamia and Nubia.Nile River: The longest river in the world (4,160 mileslong) flowing northward from Uganda, to Sudan andEgypt.Nomarch: A local governor of a nome.Nome: Administrative province.Nubia: Sudan and the southern portion of Egypt.Obelisk: Single block of tapering stone that ends in a pointand represents a form of the sun god.Ogdoad: A grouping of eight gods in four pairs.Old Kingdom: The period of Egyptian history from 2675to 2130 B.C.E. characterized by strong central governmentand building of massive pyramids.Opet Festival: An annual event at Thebes to celebrate aking’s reign.Osiris: King of the afterlife, father of Horus, husband ofIsis, brother of Seth.Ostracon: (plural: ostraca) A broken piece of pottery orlimestone chip with writing or drawing on it.Palace façade: A paneled motif used on the front of the earliestmud brick palace but used on tombs and sarcophagito create royal associations for the deceased.Papyrus: A material used by the Egyptians as a writing surfacemade from the pressed pith of the papyrus plant.Pharaoh: “The Great House”; the term used to describe theruler of ancient Egypt from the reign of Thutmose III(1479–1425 B.C.E.) in the Eighteenth Dynasty andonward.Phyle: A group of workers who serve the temple or state ona rotating basis, alternating with other phyles. Five existedin the Old Kingdom (Great Phyle, Eastern Phyle,Green Phyle, Little Phyle, and Perfection Phyle). Aphyle’s name probably referred to its protective deity.The phyles served in rotation, each working for partof the year. By the New Kingdom the system had beenreorganized.Plumb bob: A string with a weight at one end used to determinethat a wall is level vertically.Portcullis: Large stone used to block an entryway to atomb.Predynastic Period: Egyptian history before Dynasty 0.Pronaos: Antechamber to the inner room (naos) of a temple.Ptah: Creator god and maker of all things; a patron ofcraftsmen and sculptors.Ptolemaic Period: The era of Egyptian history from 332 to30 B.C.E. when the descendants of the Macedoniangeneral Ptolemy ruled Egypt.Punt: Present-day Ethiopia, Somalia, or Djibouti.Putlog: A beam used to support a rope used to lower heavyloads inside a shaft.Putlog hole: The hole in a wall used to support a putlog.Pylon: Tower in the shape of a cut-off pyramid, used as theentrance to a temple or tomb.Ramesside Period: An era during the New Kingdom(1539–1075 B.C.E.) when eleven kings named Ramessesruled Egypt (1292–1075 B.C.E.).Re: Sun god, major royal deity beginning in the FifthDynasty.Roman Period: Period of Roman rule of Egypt beginningin 30 B.C.E. and ending in 395 C.E.Sarcophagus: (plural: sarcophagi) A stone coffin.Sed-Festival: Jubilee festival celebrated by king after the firstthirty years of a reign and at fixed periods afterwards.Arts and Humanities Through the Eras: Ancient Egypt (2675 B.C.E.–332 B.C.E.) 313