Introduction
In Greece, Rome, Egypt, and architecture represented the views and concepts of the particular societies. Each of these ancient civilizations had different cultures and monuments that were rooted in the social and political conditions. This paper seeks to compare two buildings; one from Egypt and the other from Greece. The buildings that will be compared are the Old Temple of Athena in Greece and the Luxor Temple in Egypt. These monuments will be compared with regard to their relationship with social and political conditions.
Description of the Buildings
Old Temple of Athena
This is an archaic temple located in Greece, and that might have been built between 525 and 500 BC. The temple was a shrine dedicated to the patron deity of Athens; Athena Polias. The architectural design of the building is Ancient Greek Archaic. The temple was decorated with pediments and statues that depict Athena as a goddess and her struggles with the enemies which were monsters and giants. 1
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Luxor Temple
This is an ancient temple locates in Egypt that was built approximately in 1400 BCE.The Luxor temple was a shrine that was dedicated to the rejuvenation of Kingship in Egypt. It is believed that most of the Egyptian Kings were crowned at this temple. The temple served many purposes across different timelines. Several new structures were also added to it in different regimes. 2
Comparison of the Buildings
The Old Temple of Athena was made from a variety of materials but mainly limestone. For instance, the parts held the weight of the monument were built from blue Acropolis limestone while the surrounding peristasis’ foundations were made of poros limestone. 3 Luxor Temple, on the other hand, was built with sandstone. The sandstone used was popular in the construction of monuments in Upper Egypt. 4 Both of the buildings had wall inscriptions, statues, and decorations. These pieces were made from a variety of material which included limestone, granite, and marbles. The pieces either contained or represented the beliefs of the people and their gods. The central figure of a pediment in the Old Temple of Athena was the goddess Athena who the temple was dedicated to. The Luxor temples feature several statues including sphinxes, sitting Ramesses II, and a giant red Granite Obelisk. A mosque called The Abu Haggag Mosque has also been built over the ruins at Luxor Temple. Both buildings have seen several additions, reconstructions, and restorations over time which means there are only a few original structures left standing.
Relationships of the Buildings to Social and Political Conditions
The Luxor Temple contained a statue of Ramesses II. It was a popular practice for Egyptians to exalt their kings and leader in the form of honorary statues and structures. The statues served as a reminder to the people of the powers of the political leaders and their contributions to their societies. Kings and leaders, therefore, sought to build colossus statues and buildings such as the Luxor Temple in their owner. As stated earlier, the temple is could also be the stations for many crowning of Egyptian Kings including Alexander the Great.
Unlike Egyptians, Greeks’ statues mainly honored heroes, philosopher, and gods. This is the case with the Old Temple of Athena which was dedicated to the goddess Athena. The temple contained a statue of Athena depicted fighting and defeating monsters and giants. This shows that the Greeks put more respect on the deities and heroes than the Egyptians who revered their Kings and other leaders.
Both buildings acted as social meeting points for the people. Whether it was for religious rituals or practices, the buildings played host to a variety of gatherings over the ages. The temples also housed religious leaders and sometimes people lived in them for some time due to religious rituals as will be discussed later. The buildings also hosted festivals which brought the people of the community together. They, thus, played a critical role in the social conditions of the people that used them.
Religious Rituals and Sequences in the Buildings
The Luxor Temple, just as many Egyptian sanctuaries used symbolism and illusionism to pass information, For instance, two giant obelisks are used at the entrance of the temple to enhance the pathway. The temple also contains six barque shrines serving as stations during festival processions. Pathways that are followed during religious rituals and festivals are lined with either human-headed or animal-headed sphinxes. The temple has different stations along its avenues that were used for ceremonies such as Opet. Survey teams at the temple have linked it to the annual Opet Festival which honored Amun. The seated figures of Ramesses II are Ka-statues in reference to the cult of Royal Ka which the temple is believed to be dedicated to. 5 The Old Temple of Athena had a cella that contained a wooden statue of Athena that was referred to as the xoanon. The statue is however believed to have been destroyed on 480 BC by the Persians.Te statue represents the beliefs of the people in gods and served an important role in religious rituals. 6
Conclusion
In conclusion, Egypt and Greece had monuments that had important links to their social and political aspects. The Luxor Temple in Egypt and Old Temple of Athena in Greece have some similarities and differences in their architecture as discussed in the paper. The building played the role of ritual grounds and also hosted other festivals that brought the people together. The temples were also dedicated to deities, kings, and other political leaders signifying their importance in political conditions.
Bibliography
1 Wilson, Nigel. Encyclopedia of ancient Greece. Routledge, 2013.
2 Blackman, Aylward Manley. Luxor and its Temples. Routledge, 2013.
3 Wilson, Nigel. Encyclopedia of ancient Greece. Routledge, 2013.
4 Blackman, Aylward Manley. Luxor and its Temples. Routledge, 2013.
5 Blackman, Aylward Manley. Luxor and its Temples . Routledge, 2013.
6 Wilson, Nigel. Encyclopedia of ancient Greece. Routledge, 2013.
