Egyptian Architecture

This period of architecture stretched out from the years 3000-30B.C. This is the time period where the first architect was thought to have lived, Imhotep, who also served as an engineer, and physician. He served under the third dynasty king, and is known as being the first person to use columns in architecture. Due to the fact that this type of architecture was made in mainly dessert settings there was a shortage of lumber. This caused the builders to use other materials such as sun-baked mud bricks and stones (limestone, granite, and sandstone). The near by Nile was a very useful tool for the architects. Houses would be created from the mud of the Nile River that was set in molds and left to dry.

Religion played a large role in the construction of large structures and monuments. These impressively built structures are "characterized by thick, sloping walls with few openings, possibly echoing a method of construction used to obtain stability in mud walls. In a similar manner, the incised and flatly modeled surface adornment of the stone buildings may have derived from mud wall ornamentation. Although the use of the arch was developed during the fourth dynasty, all monumental buildings are post and lintel constructions, with flat roofs constructed of huge stone blocks supported by the external walls and the closely spaced columns." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_architecture)

Another common feature was the hieroglyphics that were painted in a variety of colors. These were used in structures as not only decoration, but as a written record as well.

There are many famous monuments and structures made during this period; perhaps the most famous are the Pyramids of Gaza, which still stands today.

Another famous structure was also created in Giza, the Great Sphinx of Giza. Many facts such as who created this, when it was created, and who the face was supposed to portray are not completely known, and are still being debated.