Ancient Egyptian art was not intended to be a realistic representation of the world, but rather a symbolic one designed to serve the afterlife and the gods. This style remained remarkably consistent for over 3,000 years. Figures were drawn using 'hierarchical proportion,' where the size of a person indicated their social importance; Pharaohs were always depicted as much larger than commoners. Additionally, painters used a 'composite view': the head was shown in profile, while the torso faced forward, and the legs were shown in profile again. This allowed the artist to show the most identifiable parts of the human body simultaneously. Color was also highly symbolic: blue represented the Nile and creation, gold represented the skin of the gods, and green symbolized rebirth. Most of the art we see today was found in tombs, intended to provide the deceased with everything they needed for a successful journey through the Underworld.