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Pyramid of Djoser

The Step Pyramid of Djoser

Egyptian Pharaonic history is a history to be respected all over the world especially in Egypt thanks to the Egyptian civilization which is very famous and always studied by international students who love history and monuments built that tell the stories of kings and historical events of the kings and queens who ruled Egypt, we invite you to read this article to discover the secrets of Djoser pyramid.

The Zoser (or Djoser) complex, better known as the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, is a funerary structure erected in Saqqara. Despite the fame enjoyed by the pyramids of Giza, no less noteworthy is the site of Saqqara, one of the many necropolises located around Cairo, to be exact northeast of the famous ancient city of Menfi.

Who is Djoser?

King Djoser (sometimes written Zoser), also known as Netjerijet, ruled Egypt during the Third Dynasty of the Old Empire, approximately 2650 BCE. Djoser was the first pharaoh to live only in Memphis instead of traveling between palaces. He also extended the power of Egypt southward to Aswan and northward to the Sinai.

Djoser is well known for two reasons: first, he is credited with saving Egypt from a seven-year famine by rebuilding the Temple of Jnum, the god of the source of the Nile River. Secondly, and more importantly, Djoser is known for his funerary monument, the stepped pyramid of Saqqara, which was built mainly with stone blocks instead of mud bricks under the guidance of the famous architect Imhotep. The fact that Djoser was able to put an end to famine and build such a great monument suggests that during his reign Egypt remained politically and economically stable.

The Pyramid of Djoser | Saqqara

Saqqara is considered by some to be even more significant than the necropolis of Giza from an archaeological point of view. This huge site, in fact, hosts the tombs of the period just before the ancient Kingdom up to those of the Greek period.

By far the most famous structure within this area is the stepped pyramid of Djoser, dating back to the third dynasty, (2667- 2448 BC), is considered the oldest Egyptian structure, large, built entirely of stone. The pyramid was built for King Zoser (or Djoser) by his architect Imhotep.

What to find around the pyramid:

Around the pyramid, there is a large courtyard surrounded by ceremonial and decorative structures. The pyramid considered the oldest of the Egyptian ones, rise in six decreasing mastabas, the mastabas built one on top of the other.

The structure of the pyramid:

Originally the building was 62 meters high with a base of 109 × 125 meters, limestone was used for its construction. The wall that enclosed it was inspired by the White Wall of Narmer, of which it is a simplified copy.

The height of the structure exceeds 10 meters, extends for about 1 and a half kilometers, surrounds an area of about 15 hectares, includes 211 bastions and 14 false doors; the real entrance is only one, located near the south-east corner that provides access to the corridor where the colonnade begins. Originally it was covered with calcareous blocks of Tura.

The structure is also an example of architectural innovation, it was the model for the subsequent construction of the pyramids of Giza and all subsequent pyramids from the fourth dynasty onwards.

The pyramid of Zoser is particularly important as it was the first to use several mastabas (tombs with a rectangular base, they are the elements of the pyramid, but they can also constitute single truncated pyramid burials) superimposed one on top of the other to form the stepped pyramid.

This structure marks the transition from the smoother pyramids of Giza and the smaller pyramids dating back to the fifth and sixth dynasties found in Saqqara and other surrounding sites, such as Dahshur and Abu Sir.

The area surrounding the stepped pyramid of Djoser is dotted with other pyramids, at least a dozen or so, as well as a good number of tombs and funerary temples dating back to the Greek and Pharaonic periods, found in different states of conservation.

The construction of the pyramid of Saqqara:

Unfortunately, many of the pyramids built after Zoser were damaged due to the fact that the construction methods used during the Middle Kingdom were paradoxically less advanced, due to the fact that the economy of Ancient Egypt weakened during that period, but most of these structures in Saqqara are still preserved in such a way as to allow access.

The entire site of the necropolises of Saqqara is one of the main ones in all of Egypt and is definitely worth a visit by anyone interested in the history of ancient Egypt.


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About the author

Magdy Fattouh (Migo) is a creative content marketer and expert in search engines for over 5 years. He manifests his passion in his role as a Creative Content Writer especially in travel where he strives to evoke a strong sense of place in his write-ups.

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