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One of the pyramids responsible for the evolution of the great pyramids is the Saqqara pyramid. Constructed in the 27th century BC during the 3rd dynasty rule of the famous King Djoser. It is known by three names: the Saqqara pyramid, Djoser's pyramid referring to its king, and the step pyramid referring to its building.
Situated among vast stretches of desert and a dizzying maze of funerary mounds and tombs, Sakkara seems to always fall off the tourist circuit, despite being home to a wealth of pharaonic treasures and remarkable monuments.
Just a 20 minute drive from the Great Pyramids, this massive necropolis of Saqqara is sorely overlooked compared to its glorious neighbor. Within the area of Saqqara, you will find the magnificent Step Pyramid also known as Djoser’s pyramid.
It is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in all of Egypt. Although it is not nearly as impressive or well-known as the Great Pyramids of Giza, the monument is actually much older and is critical to helping archaeologists better understand the overall development and building process of pyramid construction in general.
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.
The Step Pyramid was actually just one part of the larger 40-acre necropolis and religious complex that encompasses a courtyard, several temples and other religious sites which were all enclosed inside a towering 30-foot wall.
In fact, it was an impressive engineering feat for the time which features a built-in entrance and 13 fake doors embedded in the actual wall. Keeping within the religious theme, the complex included a handful of building facades dedicated to ritual and sacrificial purposes.
The pharaoh’s burial chambers can be found hidden deep inside the pyramid. However, he is not alone in this massive structure. The pharaoh is actually buried along with his 11 daughters.
The burial chamber is part of the structure’s winding, maze-like series of tunnels, which is believed to have been designed in such a confusing way to ward off thieves. However, this didn’t seem to work as the pyramid was eventually looted anyway.
Although the pyramid is still standing after thousands of years, it has undergone severe deterioration and this may be because of those tunnels meant to protect the tombs and treasures.
Without rigorous conservation work, archaeologists worry that the almost 5.5 kilometers of tunnels could eventually collapse, taking down the whole structure with it.
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