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What is the term for the type of masonry technique used in Egyptian buildings like Zoser's mortuary complex? ("Masonry" means building with stone or brick.)

a. Mudbrick
b. Ashlar
c. Adobe
d. Wattle and daub

User Emy
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Final answer:

The masonry technique used in Zoser's mortuary complex is known as ashlar masonry, which involves finely dressed stone laid in uniform layers for structural integrity and aesthetics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The term for the type of masonry technique used in Egyptian buildings like Zoser's mortuary complex is ashlar masonry. This technique involves using finely dressed (cut, worked) stone to create a uniform face with fine joints. Often, these stones are laid in horizontal courses, or layers. Imhotep, the architect of the Step Pyramid for Djoser, used this technique to build a complex that included temples around the pyramid itself. The use of ashlar blocks provided not only a refined aesthetic but also a robust structural integrity for the buildings of the time.

In contrast, other regions and cultures employed different materials and methods. For example, Mesopotamian architecture often relied on mud bricks due to a scarcity of stone, while Mycenaean citadel sites featured massive stone blocks referred to as Cyclopean masonry for their seemingly superhuman size. The Romans, on the other hand, perfected brick and concrete construction, allowing them to create varied and intricate architectural designs.

User Dexter Meyers
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