Sakkara

The first pyramid was not the Great Pyramid, nor was it even smooth-sloping. The first pyramid was the step-pyramid of King Zoser at Sakkara built c. 2600 B.C.

But this was not only the first pyramid—it was the first monumental architecture built in stone! There are a few unique things about Sakkara, including the fact that it has a temple wall surrounding it.

Interestingly, the perimeter of the temple-walls totals exactly 3140 Egyptian Royal cubits (compare Pi: 3.14). This means that a circle of the same perimeter (i.e. 3140) has a diameter of 1000 Royal cubits, and again shows the evident interest Egyptians had in total values. This means that they probably thought differently than us about side-lengths; where we focus on four discrete sides, the Egyptians probably saw the total enclosure holistically. Hence, the "clean" figure for the diameter (1000, or unity) as opposed to the odd and uneven side lengths (1040 x 530).

A second item of interest is that the pyramid-base is a square measuring 120 x 120 Royal Cubits. Combined with its height of 15 Royal Cubits, this means that the foundation of the first pyramid was a cubic volume: exactly 60 x 60 x 60 Royal Cubits (because 120 x 120 x 15 = 60 x 60 x 60). We will see these figures again, particularly in the chapter on Babylon.

What this means, however, is that a conceptual cube was embodied in the very first instance of monumental architecture that the world has ever known. A fitting "foundation" to be sure!