King Zoser’s complex.The man regarded with designing this structure, Imhotep, is also considered the first known architect. The evidence found at Zoser’s complex suggests that architects held a higher place in society among the wealthy and educated Egyptians. This differed from early Mesopotamian society where the kings took credit for their burial site constructions, hence the reason for no evidence of who designed the previous structures. Along with being regarded as a magician, an astronomer, and the father of medicine by the Egyptian people, Imhotep was the first to utilize new techniques in architecture that have no apparent predecessors.The main noticeable difference of Zoser’s complex is the fact that it was made of stone, while previous tombs utilized only mud bricks. While Zoser’s actual burial place was topped with a stepped pyramid constructed of mud brick, the rest of the buildings in the complex were constructed of local stone covered with polished limestone. This presents the idea that at this time the ancient Egyptians had begun the art of stone work, at least on a small scale. These stones were cut and carved to form flat faces and shaped like large bricks. When placed together in straight fashion, this rockwork gave the temple an exceptionally clean look, which had been seen never before.The first known case of clerestory lighting can be found in the entry hall as well. These openings, that extended from the ceiling down the walls a few feet, were facing east towards the Nile River. In the early morning, sunlight would pour in through these windows and shafts of light would fall presumably on statues of King Zoser or possibly those of deities, creating an almost holy mood in the hall.All of the rockwork in the complex is carved to simulate something that was previously used in construction of buildings. For instance, the roof in the entry hall was carved stone in the shape of round logs...
