To see Egypticism as merely a variety of neo-classicism sems too restrictive when one realizes the extent to which Western civilization has been inspired by Egypt. The interchangeability of terms covering that inspiration is confusing, so an attempt has been made to standardize them. The results are often contrary to what the ancients themselves would have understood or condoned. Practical considerations of form or a perenial sense of aesthetics, rather than Egyptian prototypes, may be behind much that looks Egyptian.