New Kingdom (Egyptian)

Refers to the last of three great periods of Egyptian civilization from about 1540 to 1075 BCE comprising the Eighteenth Dynasty through the Twentieth Dynasty. The period is characterized by a flowering of the arts including the introduction of colossal statues, a new interest in painting, a high degree of craftsmanship in both royal and private sculpture, and elegant decorative and luxury arts. Notable architectural works include chapels, rock-cut tombs, and monumental stone temples for worship of the gods attesting to the rising power of the priesthood. A brief revolutionary episode especially in representational art occurred during the reign of Akhenaten in the Amarna period when many existing conventions were reversed and more freedom of expression was allowed.