Analysis of Ancient Egyptian Artifacts: A HUM200 Presentation

This presentation, prepared by Tania Farhat for HUM200, focuses on two significant artifacts from ancient Egypt: the Bust of Nefertiti and the Egyptian Calendar. The presentation provides an overview of the artifacts, discussing their historical context, creation, and cultural impact. It highlights the common theme of "Religion, Gods, and Mythology," explaining how these artifacts reflect the ancient Egyptians' beliefs and societal structures, including the reverence for pharaohs and the importance of tracking time for religious and agricultural purposes. The analysis includes evidence supporting the artifacts' significance and explains their personal relevance to the student's interest in ancient civilizations and the humanities. The presentation also considers the impact of these artifacts on the field of archaeology and suggests resources for further research, such as ancient-egypt-online.com, to facilitate a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

Presentation
Tania Farhat
HUM200
1. Overview
My first artifact is The Bust of Nefertiti
Nefertiti’s Bust is stucco coated and painted limestone bust of the Royal Wife of Ancient
Egyptian Pharaoh named Akhenaten. This artwork is supposed to crafted back in 1345
BC, by the royal sculptor named Thutmose, as it was discovered on the floor of an
excavated workshop in Amarna, Egypt. This piece of artwork is amongst the most copied
works from the ancient Egypt. Taking into account the work Nefertiti have become an
ideal for the feminine beauty and one of the famous women from the ancient world
(Nefertiti's Bust. 2017).
My other artifact is
The Egyptian Calendar - Egyptian Calendar has been invented around 5000 years ago.
Fundamentally this ancient calendar was based upon the lunar cycle having 12 months,
and have been divided in the three seasons having four months each in order to accord
with increase and decrease in the water of Nile. This ancient calendar was known by the
name of “Annus Vagus” meaning wandering year.
Astrologers in the ancient Egypt studied stars which helped them in forecasting different
seasons such as floods and sowing of seeds, which was critical for the prosperity of the
Egypt. In the Egyptian Sky the brightest star was Sirius and it used to disappear for time
duration of 70 days and then used to reappear on the horizon of the East on 19th July
which was in accord with floods in Nile and therefore this date was the Ancient Egyptian
New Year (Egyptian calendar | dating system. 2017).

2. Audience Impact
The common theme in the two artifacts is “Religion, Gods and Mythology”. In Ancient
Egypt people used to take Pharaoh’s as Gods who are ruling on earth thus, made their
statues and sculptors in order to make them immortal, till the end of time. The Bust of
Nefertiti is one such example of the theme, as she was co-regent and wife to the Ancient
Egyptian Pharaoh named Akhenaten. Similarly Egyptian Calendar was also utilized in
order to keep track of duration of reign of the Pharaoh’s back then (What Were the
Themes of Egyptian Art? 2017).
3. Evidence
Both the artifacts are of the same civilization i.e. Egypt. In ancient Egypt sculptures were
considered as physical symbols of pharaohs and gods on earth, and thus allowing the
spirit to as long as the statue will exist. Various statues of the gods and pharaohs were
created in order to make them immortal and statues of workers would also be placed in
the tombs, so that they can serve the pharaoh later. Even at that time Egyptians were able
to make such statues shows that what skills and knowledge they possessed at that time
(Caitloon.com. 2017).
4. Personally
. Due to the personal interest in the study of ancient civilizations and various related
facts, this theme of calculation of time and cultural artifacts that are being discussed in
the assignment, is related to me personally. I found it interesting to study about the
Egyptian civilization as various facts related to the civilization have air of mystery, due to
which I like to study about ancient artifacts of the Ancient Egypt. Besides this I am also a
student of humanities, and thus reading about artifacts is related to the course.

5. Studying the Humanities
Archaeologist is one profession that might get affected with the identified theme in the
above paragraphs. Any new information regarding the old artifacts increases the
knowledge of Archaeologists and might provide links to the better understanding of the
subject. By finding out various related information to ancient calendars and artifacts,
Archeologists might find how the concept of lunar calendar and solar calendar come into
existence, who were the civilizations who first invented such calendars and how it
evolved over time become the calendar that modern society uses today.
6. Humanities
Various resources that can be utilized in order to search for the materials related to the
theme “Religion, Gods, and Mythology” is Ancient-egypt-online.com. Form here various
information regarding the Bust of Nefertiti can be extracted, which will be helpful for
various students who are studying the humanities (Nefertiti's Bust. 2017). How the
artifact was discovered, its analysis and various controversies surrounding the artifact can
also be studied.