About the Saqqara Pyramid
Constructed in the 27th century BC during the 3rd dynasty rule of the famous King Djoser, the Step Pyramid is important because it is considered the first pyramid built in Egypt.
Although it does not have the conventionally smooth sides of the more well-known pyramids such as those at Giza or Dahshur, it remains important as a sort of stepping stone in the overall development of the Ancient Egyptian structure.
In fact, on a global scale, the Step Pyramid is actually the world’s first large-scale stone structure to ever be constructed. This is not a surprise as the Ancient Egyptians were famous for making strides unprecedented in human history and always making advancements in the sciences and engineering in particular.
The monument is made up of six different steps of gradually decreasing size stacked on top of each other. This is believed to be an upgrade of sorts of a prior tradition where royalty were buried in funerary tombs known as mastabas which are essentially flat rectangular structures that resemble something like a large grave covering.
The builders of the Step Pyramid made the decision to stack a number of these traditional mastabas in various sizes to create a more awe-inspiring monument that is fit for a king. The structure may not be as smooth or aesthetically pleasing as the latter pyramids but it remains as important nonetheless.
Today the structure is still standing firmly at an astonishing 197 feet tall. This structure is considered the first stepping stone in the evolution of Ancient Egyptian pyramids and deserves a day trip to soak in all the marvelous history.
Standing at 197 feet high and constructed using more than 11.6 million cubic feet of stone and clay, the Step Pyramid was the brainchild of Imhotep, who was not only the pyramid’s architect but also a doctor, priest and sculptor, among other titles.
When conceptualizing the structure, it was designed as a traditional mastaba but King Djoser had a bigger vision, he wanted something grand and awe-inspiring.
So, they decided to trade innovation for tradition and over the span of the king’s 19 years of ruling, the pyramid continued to expand until it peaked at its current six layers, making it the largest building of its time.
The Djoser pyramid basically set the foundations for the famous Pyramids of Giza. They sprouted as result of the techniques practiced with the original Step Pyramid. It was a critical evolutionary step in the construction of the iconic pyramid shape we are familiar with today. We can consider the Step Pyramid as the great grandfather of all pyramids.
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