This course explores the art of Ancient Egypt and other cultures of the Ancient Near East. While the majority of the semester will focus on the concepts and traditions that shaped Egyptian art, we will trace its development from the prehistoric era through the dynastic periods, concluding with the beginning of the Islamic period. Students will examine how and why Egyptian art, became popular for its monumental architecture, sophisticated sculpture, and distinctive visual language; and served as a source of inspiration for later artistic movements, including aspects of modern abstract art. In addition to Egypt’s central role, the course will investigate other civilizations that coexisted with or influenced Egypt, such as the Hyksos, who invaded Egypt, and the Hittites, who engaged in cultural exchange with the Egyptians. Broader Near Eastern cultures, including Mesopotamia, Assyria, Babylonia, and Persia, will also be studied. Comparisons will highlight similarities and differences in artistic concepts, forms, and symbolic systems across the region. A particularly fascinating component of the course is Egyptian hieroglyphic writing, presented in both artistic and functional contexts. Students will have the opportunity to learn basic hieroglyphics, enhancing their ability to interpret artifacts and inscriptions. By examining the peoples and cultural centers of Egypt and the Near East, from the fifth millennium BCE to the Greek conquest under Alexander the Great and into the Roman period, students will advance a deeper understanding of the stylistic and iconographic developments that spanned millennia.