The first pyramid in Egypt was built for the 3rd dynasty Pharaoh Zoser (about 2667-2648BC). This is a step-pyramid and we even know the person behind the construction, the legendary Imhotep. He was vizier and chief architect of Zoser but had knowledge about far more than architecture. Astronomy and medicine being among the other areas he is renown for.

This lead to an unusual event in ancient Egypt as Imhotep 2000 years after his death was deified as a god of medicine and the Greeks came to identify him with Aesculapius. In late pharaonic period there was a cult centre for Imhotep in Sakkara where pilgrims came with mummified animals, especially the representation of the God of wisdom, the ibis bird.

The pyramid is built on the idea of mastabas, the form of the pre-pyramid tombs. This was done in several stages and one can still see remains from one stage which had four mastaba-forms on top of each other (one smaller than the other as they rose upwards). Later this was extended and the final pyramid has six mastabas or steps.

Around the pyramid was a large wall 545 meters long and 277 meters (1788x908 ft) wide. The wall had 14 entrances but 13 of these had only false doors, so the only open entrance to this pyramid complex is the door in the south east corner.

Zoser's pyramid complex is the earliest stone structure of its size in the world.

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