The Pharaoh and the Architect (Introduction)

by Nicholas Buccalo, copyright 2008

The following story is what might of happened some 4700 years ago between a Pharaoh Djoser and an Architect Imhotep. Imhotep is considered by many throughout time to be the great Egyptian Architect, and created the 'Step Pyramid, the first of it's kind,  for Djoser's tomb. It is well known that Imhotep was part of the inner court and probably just walked over to meet with the Pharaoh Djoser... but hey, my story of meeting on the Nile works in this context.

I think their meeting might of gone something like this: the Pharaoh Djoser, summons the great Architect Imhotep to come up with a concept worthy of his greatness and kingdom. The Architect rises early and hops on board a vessel traveling North on the river Nile, to the Pharaoh's residence, so they both can travel to the site of the King's future tomb. The Architect ponders about what he is going to present to his worship as he stands at the front of the vessel looking out over the Nile. The Sun has just begun to rise to his right.

Architect: Dear Pharaoh Djoser, my King, walk with me to the front of this great boat. I've been thinking hard in search of truth and I believe I have discovered something worthy of a King. 

Pharaoh: I value your guidance, please continue.

Architect: As we look out across our beautiful and life-giving river Nile, the water fades away towards the horizon and we can see far off into the distance. I've noticed that the Nile seems like it is rising up to touch the sky.  To me, it is like a pathway that goes on forever. This IS our great pathway on earth.  Don't you agree?

Pharaoh: Yes, the Nile does provide us with all we need and keeps the desert at bay and, as I stand here looking at it stretched out to the horizon, I see what you mean, it does seem to go on forever.

Architect: Do you notice how the shores on either side seem to get smaller the further away they are from us? I think it looks something like two triangles on either side with the path of the Nile between them.  And the Nile itself looks like one huge triangle with it's tip touching the sky, it's water reflecting the blue of the sky above.  The smaller 'land' triangles seem like solids while the grand Nile triangle seems, transparent.

Pharaoh: Yes, I see what you mean.

Architect: I think our journey today must be something like the journey a Deity such as yourself must have to take when going to the after-life.  Along a great pathway like our life giving Nile. 

Architect: And notice our beautiful and life giving Sun. Every day it rises above from the direction of the East.  And as it rises, to which we celebrate, it sheds it's light onto our land and reflects itself onto our pathway Nile.  The reflection looks something like this.... (see illustration).

Architect: As the sun rises above our precious fertile land, it becomes brighter.  The movement of this growth in the sky looks something like an upside down tear drop, in that while the sun is at the horizon, it is small and sheds little light, but as the day progresses, it becomes larger and stronger.  Coupled with this is how the Sun arcs across the sky, from the shore of the East to the shore of the West.

Pharaoh: Interesting, please continue.

Architect: If we combine these four things: 1) the triangular path of the transparent river Nile rising up to touch the sky, as flanked by, 2) the triangular slivers of our land on either side, 3) the sheding of the light onto our life giving river and 4) the rising and arcing of the Sun itself which allows all life to grow, it comes together into a symbol which embodies the spirit of life here in Egypt.  I call this symbol the Golden Ankh.  It is my belief that all who carry it will show they have the powers of Life. I believe the Ankh will be Egypt's symbol and key to life, for it possesses our great pathway, here on earth.

Pharaoh: Yes, you are right, this symbol does hold the truth of our place on earth.

Architect: And since you embody the Sun itself, might I suggest a new head-dress designed to echo the rays of the sun from your face, and, below the line of your shoulder, rows of horizontal lines to echo the waves of the river Nile, and a beard to echo the reflection of the Sun onto our water, for it is you that holds the key to life for the people of Egypt and considering you are the son of the Sun, it seems truly fitting.  

Architect: Also, your kilt front should be a triangle, like that of the Nile flowing into the distance, with a rippled reflection down it's center and rays emanating from the belt line.  The back of which will be golden like the desert.  And if we consider the belt line to be the horizon here on earth, your torso and head shall lie in the space of heavens, therefore their colors shall be predominately blue of the sky and gold of the sun. I'd also like to add a tail to this outfit, but I don't know why at this time... perhaps it shall represent the sliver of our fertile land ending at the Mediterranean Sea.

The Pharaoh accepts these new changes:

A young Pharaoh, holding the Ankh and wearing the new headdress and clothing, is one who embodies Egypt herself and is prepared to travel the eternal journey.  Above the belt line are the colors of the sky and Sun.  Below, that of the earthly realm.

"After Djoser of the third dynasty, pharaohs usually were depicted wearing the Nemes headdress, a false beard, and an ornate kilt." Source: wiki/Pharaoh.

Architect: And I feel that you are in need of a new burial chamber design to which our purpose lies today.  One that is beyond that of the plain one story Mastaba design whose construction has been completed.  Something that reflects on this new found truth and something that will help with your spirit's journey to the after-life.  It is obvious to me that we need to recreate the path of the Nile itself, but, unlike the Nile which lies flat and reaches up only to the sky, to have it reach up to the heavens.   The base of this pathway temple will touch the earth, and will stretch itself upwards to the heaven and stars.

Architect: And to harness the power of all of Egypt, there should be four earth bound paths pointing in each direction, East/West, North/South.  As this path rises upward, it will be triangular in shape, like the flowing 'sky touching' river Nile.  Using our latest 'sloped wall' building technology, it will work perfectly and seems to be harmoniously in tune with this new concept. 

Architect: The tip and upper most part of this great sloped triangle and pathway, will be clad in gold, for this part will be your golden carpet pathway to the heavens and afterlife.  It's shape, representing infinity, and a journey through infinity is eternal.  Visually, it will extend itself from the earth all the way to the stars, which is where all Gods, like yourself, reside.

Pharoah: Wow.

Architect: We earth bound peoples will forever be able to look up this path from the base of this new structure and know that we are looking at your presence. And below the golden pathway of the heavens, the surface should be smooth yet undulating, perhaps reminiscent of waves of the Nile.  And this lower earth bound surface should be made of limestone, our earthly material, and it should be polished to be reflective like the Nile.

Pharaoh: How will you build such a tall structure?

Architect: I will simply stack a variation of the Mastaba design, one on top of the other, setting each one back from the edge of the other to create the perfect wave like 'perspective' to infinity and eternity. For it is this shape, a pointed triangle, that looks like it can go on forever, and thus, reach the stars.  It will look something like this.... (Architect creates a sketch-see photo below).

Pharaoh: Do the edges not look funny?

Architect: They will be like the waves on the shore of the sky and heavens. In fact, the whole structure will be like the raising of the Nile itself into the sky. This is why the undulation of the surface is important, to echo the waves of water like our hieroglyph for water, which is why the surface needs to be polished and reflective, perhaps it too will sparkle like water. 

Architect: I can foresee that these future stacked Mastaba's being called 'Pyramids' and that they will be clad with limestone, and perhaps other materials like 'water' sparkling quartz and granite.  And the waves will be much closer together like the real waves of the Nile. Whose top surfaces at each horizontal joint and course will have a different flatter slope while the face itself will echo the overall angle of the Pyramid.  And there will be a time when we position these Pyramids in such a way to echo the placement of the stars themselves, for it is an obvious thing to do, because we all know that it is there that will be your destination for eternity.  But I am getting ahead of myself...

Pharaoh: I don't get the Pyramid thing but I like everything else, so, let's get crackin, I'm no spring chicken... I'm 16 already!

Architect: Very good.  While we are on the subject of Architecture, let me tell you about a thing I've called an Obelisk, and how it will, when positioned correctly, allow you to view the sun rising above it's tip, which will remind you of the reflection of the Sun upon the Nile, thus connecting the Nile and Sun to our land.  It's so cool, it gives me goose bumps... it is tall and slender, and shaped like the reflection of the Sun in the water.  I will have to travel to the Nile early in the morning, to take actual measurements of the reflection, so that I get it's size just right.  I know that I will have to be at the height of the Sun as it rises above the horizon.  I will then positoin a vertical measuring plane on the shore of the Nile to which I will look through to trace the reflection, but, what I'm not exactly sure of, is how far back I should stand, but this is a detail I will work out later.  When built, an Obelisk will be like we are holding a water reflection of the Sun, on the land.  How cool is that?

Pharaoh:  I like the idea, but, since when has Egypt ever been cool except at night?

copyright 2008: N Buccalo.