SHAMLIAN: WESLEY: Scale

When speaking of scale in our history of architecture class we analyzed and compared the Khufu, which is one of the Great Pyramids at Giza, and the Hatshepsut.

We found that the Khufu, as a pyramid, seems to be lifting itself and its onlookers towards the heavens with its pointed top. One of its very aesthetically pleasing qualities is its repetition of shapes with its surrounding pyramids. It is also made out of the same materials that it is surrounded by, which makes it fade into the background. Although it fades into the background it is still very pronounced and beautiful. There is only one sphinx gaurding

the entrance of the tomb, which represents the social hierarchy of Egypt. It represents the need for only one leader.

The Hatshepsut temple seems to be smaller in scale. Unlike the Khufu tomb, this structure houses a queen and her family. "As pharaoh, she initiated grander and more numerous building projects than those of any of her middle kingdom predecessors." (Class Handout) There are many different openings in the front of this temple, and the repetition created by these openings is very appealing. Ironically as a woman queen Hatshepsut has many male figures built into the columns gaurding her temple. This represents the social hierarchy of men versus women. This structure is a bit more ominous than the Khufu. It is more hidden, having been built into a mountain, and therefore makes the onlooker feel unwelcome.

The difference in scale is that one building is built ON the land while one building is built IN the land. This is a very significant detail of these two structures. It is what separates them so

definitely. They are both made out of their surrounding materials. For the Hatshepsut temple, having been built into a mountainside makes its scale much larger. The pyramids, however, are large enough to stand on their own.