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Covered colonnade: World's first columns [The] passage into the interior of the complex, which consists of a long hall with twenty pairs (40 total) of limestone columns.... Today, the roof of the colonnade has been added by the restorers, and is somewhat higher than the original, allowing more light to enter this part of the building... Reaching a height of almost six meters, the columns in the colonnade were composed of drum shaped segments. However, they were not freestanding, but were rather connected with the side walls by masonry projections. At this early date, the architects obviously did not yet trust columns as sole supports, for the most part. The form of the columns is modeled on a bundle of plant stems." - Alan Winston, The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara in the South Courtyard, And South Tomb Jan. 2010 LARGER SIZE beneath top photo

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