The
first historically documented Egyptian
pyramid is attributed to the architect
Imhotep, who in constructing what Egyptologists
believe to be a tomb for the pharaoh Djozer,
it is theorised first conceived the notion
of stacking a number of mastabas on top
of each other — thereby creating
an edifice comprised of a number of steps
that decreased in size towards its apex.
The result was the Step Pyramid of Djozer
— which was designed to serve as
a gigantic stairway by which the soul
of the deceased pharaoh could ascend to
the heavens. Such was the importance of
Imhotep's achievement that he was deified
by later Egyptians. The most prolific
pyramid-building phase coincided with
the greatest degree of absolutist pharaonic
rule, during the early part of the Old
Kingdom. Over time, as the exercise of
pharaonic authority became less centralised
and more bureaucratised, the ability and
willingness to harness the resources required
for construction on a massive scale was
reduced, and later pyramids were smaller,
less well built and often hastily constructed.
The
first historically documented Egyptian
pyramid is attributed to the architect
Imhotep, who in constructing what Egyptologists
believe to be a tomb for the pharaoh Djozer,
it is theorised first conceived the notion
of stacking a number of mastabas on top
of each other — thereby creating
an edifice comprised of a number of steps
that decreased in size towards its apex.
The result was the Step Pyramid of Djozer
— which was designed to serve as
a gigantic stairway by which the soul
of the deceased pharaoh could ascend to
the heavens. Such was the importance of
Imhotep's achievement that he was deified
by later Egyptians. The most prolific
pyramid-building phase coincided with
the greatest degree of absolutist pharaonic
rule, during the early part of the Old
Kingdom.
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