Innovation No. 27 of 77 in the book
The Architectural Column
Stone columns shaped after bundled reeds
- When
- c. 2670 BCE
- Dynasty
- 3rd Dynasty
- Era
- Old Kingdom
Around 2670 BCE, Egyptian builders under the architect Imhotep did something no one had done: they raised columns of cut stone. It happened at Djoser’s Step Pyramid complex, at the start of the Old Kingdom.
The earliest ones imitate bundles of reeds and papyrus stalks, frozen in limestone — plants that once held up mud huts, now holding up temples in stone.
From there grew the hypostyle hall, a ‘forest’ of carved columns like Karnak’s 134 giants — ancestor of every colonnade, from Greek temples to bank façades.
The stone column, backbone of monumental architecture, was first quarried on the Nile.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the earliest archaeological evidence for the architectural column in ancient Egypt?
The earliest confirmed evidence dates to approximately 2670 BCE during Egypt's Old Kingdom (3rd Dynasty). Around 2670 BCE, Egyptian builders under the architect Imhotep did something no one had done: they raised columns of cut stone. It happened at Djoser’s Step Pyramid complex, at the start of the Old Kingdom.
How did ancient Egyptians develop the architectural column, and what is its legacy?
The earliest ones imitate bundles of reeds and papyrus stalks, frozen in limestone — plants that once held up mud huts, now holding up temples in stone. The earliest ones imitate bundles of reeds and papyrus stalks, frozen in limestone — plants that once held up mud huts, now holding up temples in stone. The stone column, backbone of monumental architecture, was first quarried on the Nile.