Early Dynastic

also: Early Dynastic Period art

tradition c. 3100-2686 BCE Egypt North Africa

The art of Egypt's Early Dynastic Period spans the first three dynasties, from the unification of the Two Lands under kings such as Narmer to the eve of the Old Kingdom around 2686 BCE. What survives is mostly small-scale and ceremonial: carved stone palettes and maceheads commemorating royal victories, ivory and bone labels from the royal tombs at Abydos, stone vessels, and cylinder seals, together with the painted tomb at Hierakonpolis. Across these works the conventions that would govern Egyptian art for three millennia are already in place - the king colossal beside his enemies, bodies assembled from their most readable angles, scenes stacked in registers with hieroglyphic captions. Everything was made for the tomb and the cult: art as equipment for eternity, not for display.

Erotic painting It was commented that this painting "...probably dates from the late 17th or early 18th century..." [ 1 ]
Erotic painting It was commented that this painting "...probably dates from the late 17th or early 18th century..." [ 1 ]Public domain (credit: James Cahill) · source

Defining characteristics

  • Hierarchical scale: the king dwarfs every other figure
  • Composite view of the body - head in profile, eye and shoulders frontal - arranged in registers
  • Ceremonial objects (palettes, maceheads, labels) carrying royal political narrative
  • Tight, controlled carving of stone, ivory, and bone with hieroglyphic captions
  • Funerary function: objects made for the tomb rather than for viewing

Key figures

  • Narmer (fl. c. 3100 BCE) — Unifier king whose ceremonial palette is the era's masterpiece
  • Den (fl. c. 2950 BCE) — Early king whose ivory labels from Abydos are among the oldest narrative relief scenes

Example works

  • Narmer Palette — Unknown (c. 3100 BCE)
  • Ivory label of King Den — Unknown (c. 2950 BCE)

Sources

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