How art reflected the philosophy of the ancient Egyptians

Egypt prides itself on being the first center of civilization on the African continent since 5000 BC. C. The country is located along the coast of the Nile River in Northeast Africa. Egypt was the site of one of the most powerful and long-lasting civilizations in the ancient world. This great ancient state used various forms of art to reveal its deeply held philosophies of life. These philosophies were embedded in their strict and compact religious beliefs, prominent among which was the belief in life after death. Because of this, the town practiced a cult of death where art was the main vehicle used.

Egyptian art was made on purpose to serve the dead. For the ancient Egyptians, death was not an end but the transition from the land of the living (physical world) to the land of the dead (spiritual/metaphysical world). The Egyptians believed that when they died, their souls (Ka) would continue to live in another world but within the same bodies. Therefore, to ensure a successful journey to the land of the dead and the afterlife, the deceased had to be physically preserved along with earthly possessions and other reminders of daily activities.

To achieve this philosophy, the ancient Egyptians carefully treated their corpses called mummies and embalmed them to protect them from decay. The works of art were meant to accompany the deceased into eternity. Therefore, Egyptian art is an art of permanence, that is why Egyptian art is popularly known as ‘Art for Eternity’. Fine woven strips of linen were used to wrap the corpses. Sometimes the likenesses of missing corpses were carved from imperishable or durable materials such as granite, gold, and gems to replace them. After the body of the deceased (mummy) was wrapped in the linen material, it was painted in bright colors and deposited in tombs. These architectural structures known as pyramids were built with heavy stones. This helped prolong his life for eternity. Egyptian tombs were built to ensure a happy afterlife for the deceased, and the paintings, sculptures, and other objects in them served an eternal purpose.

The interiors of these pyramids were profusely decorated with a series of paintings that represented the journey of the dead to the metaphysical world. Other subjects of the painting included people hunting and partying. Funeral texts that were believed to preserve the name of the dead person and the requests of the gods for their well-being were also written in hieroglyphics. This graphic art recounted the good works of the deceased, including the titles and honors he earned during his lifetime.

Thus, the ideologies of the Egyptians regarding the afterlife that is part of their philosophy became evident through artistic creations-paintings, sculptures, architecture and textiles. This should inform today’s scholars about the indispensable role that art can play in social progress and sustainable development. Modern scholars should not dissuade art as silent in philosophy because of its picturesque nature. Rather, they should strive to explore how to implement artistic creations in the transmission of deep thought or philosophies as illustrated by the cardinal example of the ancient Egyptians.