Refers to the period in Egypt from about 1075 to 664 BCE comprising the Twenty-first Dynasty through the Twenty-fifth Dynasty; some sources end with the Twenty-fourth Dynasty about 715 BCE. The period is one of political disruption resulting in the the diminished production of art and architecture during certain dynasties. A rise in the importance of metalworking, a tendency towards archaizing in sculpture, and a high level of artistic quality are notable characteristics of the period.
