The most obvious form of Egyptian art can be seen in its architectural structures, from royal tombs like the pyramids to its temple complexes like Karnak. The Egyptians used limestone blocks to create these structures. In pyramids they used ramps lubricated with oil to pull the bricks up to the required height. Temples are characterized by closely spaced stone columns with flat roofs, as domes were unknown in ancient Egypt. The interiors of the pyramids and the exterior walls of the temples in Egypt were highly decorated with both hieroglyphs, which recorded historical events, and religious symbols such as the scarab beetle and the solar disk.
Artists in ancient Egypt adhered to a strict hierarchy. There were the craftsmen who were skilled laborers and ordinary people, and then there were the supervisors who oversaw the building works linked to the pharaohs. The latter would most likely come from the higher and often royal classes of society. Craftsmen would also be restricted on their creativity as art in Egypt was highly stylized and was expected to remain the same, with the best artists being the ones who could copy the art of the past.
In the Predynastic period of Egypt in 4210-2680 BC, pottery was made by molding lumps of clay into the form required and then left out in the sun to bake. By the time of the Old Kingdom period of 2680 BC, the potter's wheel had been invented, so pottery became more symmetrical in shape and were often covered in enamel. Pottery found in Egyptian tombs includes canopic jars, which were used to keep the internal organs of the deceased person. They were decorated with the heads of animal gods, and it was believed that the dead person would use the internal organs again in the afterlife. Other forms of pottery were also left with the dead in their tombs, often filled with food for the afterlife.
Sculpture in ancient Egypt normally represented the gods and the pharaohs. This can be seen in the massive representations of the pharaoh Ramses the Great at the temple of Abu Simbel. Statues followed a strict formula, meaning the statues of ancient Egypt are all similar in appearance. Other forms of sculpture include the obelisks, which were seen as symbols of the sun god Ra and were believed to protect temples. Sphinxes, which were lions with human heads, were also carved and believed to offer protection to temples and tombs.
Many tombs in Egypt contain wall paintings that have been preserved by the dry conditions of the Egyptian desert. These paintings tell the stories of everyday life in Egypt and were believed to help the soul of the deceased person in the afterlife. The paintings followed a strict formula, which included figures being painted with their heads and legs in profile, while their bodies faced the front. The most important aspect of the paintings was to get as many representations of ordinary life in as possible, even if this was to affect the overall aesthetics of the piece. Colors used on the paintings include blue, black, gold and red.