Role as Builder
"Ideology needs architecture for its fullest expression"
As articulated by the quote above from Barry Kemp ('Ancient Egypt, Anatomy of a Civilisation', pg 185) through building projects the pharaohs could communicate their ideas and beliefs.
Religion dictated the focus of the majority of building projects. All of the pharaohs constructed monuments dedicated to the gods (or 'god' in the case of Akhenaten) and in doing so they also emphasised their own connection with religion. Particularly during the New Kingdom 'The Cult of the Pharaoh' was accentuated through inscriptions on royal buildings.
Conducting building projects was also a political activity. The grandeur and multitude of the monuments, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing, demonstrated the immense wealth and power of the pharaoh. Hence, buildings were a major part of propaganda. Where the buildings were situated was also carefully planned, for example, Pharaoh's built monuments in Nubia to assert their power over this region.
A major reason for the pharaohs conducting large-scale building projects was self promotion: through these buildings they would leave a legacy and how they presented themselves would greatly influence the level of support that they recieved from the Egyptian people. Hence, the Pharaohs all competed with their predecessors, aiming to produce a more impressive collection of buildings. The Pharaohs were so competitve amongst one another that some would claim ownership of other Pharaohs buildings (i.e. Ramesses II)
Seti I's building program was of great importance as this was one of the ways that he worked toward restoring Egypt. He reinforced the significance of the Egyptian gods through the dedications of his temples. As an establishing pharaoh of the 19th dynasty, Seti's large, impressive monuments helped to justify his claim to the throne. Many of his constructions also honored his father, the God Osiris (Ramesses I) as a way of underlining the beginning of a new dynasty.
Religion dictated the focus of the majority of building projects. All of the pharaohs constructed monuments dedicated to the gods (or 'god' in the case of Akhenaten) and in doing so they also emphasised their own connection with religion. Particularly during the New Kingdom 'The Cult of the Pharaoh' was accentuated through inscriptions on royal buildings.
Conducting building projects was also a political activity. The grandeur and multitude of the monuments, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing, demonstrated the immense wealth and power of the pharaoh. Hence, buildings were a major part of propaganda. Where the buildings were situated was also carefully planned, for example, Pharaoh's built monuments in Nubia to assert their power over this region.
A major reason for the pharaohs conducting large-scale building projects was self promotion: through these buildings they would leave a legacy and how they presented themselves would greatly influence the level of support that they recieved from the Egyptian people. Hence, the Pharaohs all competed with their predecessors, aiming to produce a more impressive collection of buildings. The Pharaohs were so competitve amongst one another that some would claim ownership of other Pharaohs buildings (i.e. Ramesses II)
Seti I's building program was of great importance as this was one of the ways that he worked toward restoring Egypt. He reinforced the significance of the Egyptian gods through the dedications of his temples. As an establishing pharaoh of the 19th dynasty, Seti's large, impressive monuments helped to justify his claim to the throne. Many of his constructions also honored his father, the God Osiris (Ramesses I) as a way of underlining the beginning of a new dynasty.