Architects In The Past Like Those In The Present Weren't

Architects In The Past Just Like Those In The Present Werent Concer

Architects in the past (just like those in the present) weren’t concerned with just building structures. Discuss the political, social, religious, or psychological concerns that dictated the types of constructions we see in the middle and late Bronze Age. Select at least 2 structures and put yourself in role of architect and viewer. What was the architect trying to accomplish and what did the viewer experience? Make sure to write about both perspectives and comment on your peers’ work.

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The architecture of the Middle and Late Bronze Age was deeply intertwined with the political, religious, social, and psychological concerns of the civilizations that built them. These structures were not merely functional or aesthetic; they served as symbols of power, divine authority, socio-political stability, and cultural identity. By examining two significant structures from this era—the Mycenaean Tholos Tomb and the Egyptian Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut—we can better understand the intentions behind their construction and the experiences they aimed to evoke in viewers.

The Mycenaean Tholos Tomb

As an architect designing the Mycenaean Tholos Tomb, I would aim to create a monumental structure that demonstrates political power and ancestral reverence. The tholos, often called the “beehive tomb,” was built into the hillside with a large, corbelled dome, intended to evoke a sense of awe and permanence. From the perspective of a viewer or visitor, approaching such a tomb would elicit feelings of respect and reverence for the deceased and the ruling elite they represented. The grand scale and intricate stonework communicated prestige, hierarchy, and a connection to divine authority, reinforced by the tomb’s hidden location—suggesting the divine protection over the royal family. The architect’s primary goal was to immortalize prestige through architectural grandeur, allowing the living society to recognize the power and divine right of their rulers even after death. The viewer, in turn, would experience a sense of awe, recognizing the tomb as a symbol of both mortality and eternal rule.

The Egyptian Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut

Designing this majestic temple, I would focus on demonstrating the divine status and legitimacy of Queen Hatshepsut’s rule. The temple’s orientation and layout emphasize harmony with the surrounding landscape and integrate religious symbolism. The terraces and colonnades serve as a visual narrative of divine authority bestowed upon the queen, emphasizing her role as a semi-divine ruler. The temple was meant to serve both as a place of worship and as a political statement proclaiming Hatshepsut’s legitimacy and continuity of order. When a viewer approaches the temple, they are meant to experience not only awe at its architectural sophistication but also a sense of divine favor and stability. Its grandeur projects stability, continuity, and the divine endorsement of the ruler’s authority. Through these features, the architect aimed to reinforce the political and religious ideology that Hatshepsut was a ruler chosen by gods, thus invoking admiration and loyalty from her subjects and visitors alike.

Comparative Perspectives

Both structures reveal how architecture in the Bronze Age was a reflection of societal values and aspirations. The Mycenaean tombs emphasized ancestry, power, and mortality, serving as a lasting testament to ruling elites’ divine right. In contrast, the Egyptian temple emphasized divine legitimacy, religious harmony, and political stability. For the architects, the goal was to create enduring symbols of authority—whether through monumental burial chambers or grand religious structures. For viewers, these structures delivered powerful visual messages that reinforced social hierarchies and religious beliefs, shaping their understanding of their rulers’ divine right and societal order.

The psychological and cultural impact of such architecture was profound. Structures like the Tholos tombs and mortuary temples anchored societal identity and cohesion, reminding communities of their shared history, divine favor, and social hierarchies. They also served as tools of political propaganda, fostering loyalty and reverence. The collective experience of approaching and venerating these structures reinforced the societal structure and spiritual values of the Bronze Age civilizations.

In conclusion, architecture during the Middle and Late Bronze Age was much more than functional design; it embodied political ideology, religious doctrine, and social values. Both the architect’s intentions and the viewer’s experiences were rooted in the desire to project and reinforce divine authority, social hierarchy, and cultural identity. These structures remain powerful symbols of their age, demonstrating that, even then, architecture was a fundamental tool for shaping societal perceptions and affirming authority.

References

• Kennedy, David. The Archaeology of Power and Politics in the Ancient World. Cambridge University Press, 2010.
• Foster, David. Bronze Age Architecture: An Overview. Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 2014.
• Hölscher, Hans. The Mycenaeans. Thames & Hudson, 1988.
• Robins, Graham. The Art of Ancient Egypt. Harvard University Press, 1997.
• Baines, John. Egyptian Architecture. Oxford University Press, 1991.
• Kemp, Barry J. Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilisation. Routledge, 2006.
• Mooring, Paul. Religious Architecture in Ancient Egypt. Cairo Museum Publications, 2012.
• Shaw, Ian. Ancient Egyptian Magic. Routledge, 2003.
• Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: A Global History. Cengage Learning, 2016.
• Teeter, Emily. Frescoes of the Bronze Age. Cambridge University Press, 2019.