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2686 BCE2560 BCE2434 BCE2308 BCE2181 BCE
Michael CarricoMichael Carrico
Updated:Apr 23, 2026
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Art, sculpture, and royal portraiture in the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BCE)

Art, sculpture, and royal portraiture in the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BCE)

  1. Old Kingdom begins; Memphite court art consolidates

    Labels: Memphis, Old Kingdom, Royal workshops

  2. Djoser’s Step Pyramid complex built at Saqqara

    Labels: Djoser, Saqqara, Imhotep

  3. Non-royal mastaba programs expand at Saqqara

    Labels: Saqqara mastabas, Non-royal elites

  4. Rahotep and Nofret statues exemplify elite polychrome realism

    Labels: Rahotep, Nofret, Painted limestone

  5. Great Pyramid complex built for Khufu at Giza

    Labels: Khufu, Giza plateau, Great Pyramid

  6. Khafre enthroned statue carved for the valley temple

    Labels: Khafre, Valley Temple, Diorite statue

  7. Giza “reserve heads” show early portrait experimentation

    Labels: Giza reserve, Non-royal portraiture

  8. Menkaure triads formalize king–goddess–nome imagery

    Labels: Menkaure triads, Hathor

  9. Bust of Prince Ankhhaf shows individualized elite portraiture

    Labels: Ankhhaf, Painted bust

  10. Mastaba of Ti relief programs peak in narrative density

    Labels: Mastaba of, Narrative reliefs

  11. Palermo Stone annals produced as an Old Kingdom historical monument

    Labels: Palermo Stone, Royal Annals

  12. Seated Scribe type demonstrates high craft in private statuary

    Labels: Seated Scribe, Saqqara statue

  13. Late Old Kingdom guidelines appear in relief figure drafting

    Labels: Relief drafting, Workshop guidelines

  14. Old Kingdom ends; First Intermediate Period begins

    Labels: First Intermediate, Old Kingdom