Old Kingdom

Refers to the first of three great period of Egyptian civilization from about 2650 to 2150 BCE comprising the Third Dynasty to Sixth Dynasty; some sources begin with the Fourth Dynasty about 2575 BCE and extend through the Eighth Dynasty ending about 2134 BCE. The period is characterized by royal monuments of the highest quality including the pyramid complexes of the Fourth Dynasty which symbolize the absolute sovereignty of Egypt's kings and the continued use of artistic conventions introduced in the Early Dynastic period. The end of the period is characterized by a general decline in the arts reflecting the political circumstances of the time.