The Imitation Phenomenon of Royal Architecture by the Upper Classes During the Thinite Age

Abstract

The most important evolution in the royal architecture of Ancient Egypt was probably the emergence of pyramidal architecture. This revolutionary new concept, started with Netjerkhet’s step pyramid, does not have a clear architectural explanation in the Egyptological context. Most scholars argue that the emerging solar cult was the only clue to this transformation. The present work shows that pyramidal architecture was the result of mixing the clear importance that the solar cult was growing in this historical context and the necessity of the pharaohs to stop the imitation phenomenon that their buildings were suffering by the upper classes during the Early Dynastic Period.