The ancient masterbuilder is a design-build professional, an artist of the built environment, who has

existed for about 5,000 years. The history of this profession extends all the way back to the building of the
pyramids of Egypt and the world's first civilizations. In fact, the vast majority of the history of architecture,
including a majority of its most significant works, were designed and built by the masterbuilder. The most
beautiful places in the world—whether houses, villages, or cities—were done by this professional, who
was responsible for the entire built environment.

Long, long ago, the Greeks gave the ancient masterbuilder the name ảpxitέktwv (architekton), from which
the Romans derived the Latin name, architectus. Both words literally mean "masterbuilder"—as denoting
one responsible for the design and construction of the built environment. Our modern English word
"architect" derives from these Greek and Roman terms and is their phonetic equivalent, stripped of the
original meaning. Even so, the centuries-old masterbuilder remains a highly respected and legendary
figure in today's architectural community. Several things have been written about him in the record of
history. The 1st century BC Roman writer, Vitruvius, highly regarded among architects and architecture
schools as one of history's most preeminent architects, wrote in his De architectura about the architectus
saying that, "His personal service consists in craftsmanship and theory [fabrica et ratiocinatione].
Craftsmanship is continued and familiar practice, which is carried out by the hands in such material as is
necessary for the purpose of a design." Vitruvius goes on to warn that the architectus who relies solely on
theory and ignores the craftsmanship skill of building with his own hands follows "a shadow and not
reality." (Excerpts taken from Vitruvius On Architecture, trans. from the Latin by F. Granger, Loeb Library
[Harvard Univ. Press, 1970], vol. I, p. 7.) As for the Greek word architekton, it was used by several ancient
Greek writers. It even appears in the New Testament scriptures of the Bible, where it is translated
"masterbuilder" in I Corinthians 3:10—which reads: "According to the grace of God which is given unto
me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man
take heed how he buildeth thereupon." Here, as in every place among the ancients, the masterbuilder's
profession is described as one in which both design and construction reside as well as wisdom and
knowledge.