Saqqara

saqqara - cemetery of the ancient kings
Please maximise your browser window for best results.

The principal necropolis of the ancient city of Memphis, whose most famous monument is probably the  step pyramid of Djoser, the oldest of Egypt's 97 pyramids. It was built by the architect and genius Imhotep, who designed it and the surrounding complex to be as grand as it was unique and revolutionary.

The importance of the site of Saqqara is indicated by the crowded nature of the burials, with some having been used many times, and most having been plundered throughout antiquity.

Mastaba tombs were constructed at Saqqara for the Memphite elite during the Old Kingdom. Pyramids were also built there, including the famous 3rd Dynasty Step Pyramid complex of Djoser, the 5th Dynasty pyramid of Unas, the "lost" unfinished pyramid complex of Sekhemkhet which bears a striking resemblance to Djoser's complex, and the 6th Dynasty pyramid complex of Pepi II which was the last major funerary monument of the Old Kingdom at Saqqara. Djoser's complex is remarkable because not only was it the worlds' first ever pyramid, it is also acknowledged as the worlds' first completely stone building.

Aerial view of the step pyramid complex of Djoser. The Heb-sed court on the lower right hand side of the enclosure is clearly visible. See the full picture, click here >>

Satellite imagery courtesy of Google Imagery, DigiGlobe

Beneath the ground, Saqqara is riddled with tombs, galleries and robber shafts, which are not always visible from the surface.

During the New Kingdom, Memphis took second place to Thebes as Egypt's capital. However, although the administration was established at Thebes, the government officials who ruled Upper Egypt lived in Memphis and were buried at Saqqara.

The Pyramid of Djoser

Djoser, whose Horus name was Netjerykhet, was founder of the Third Dynasty, Old Kingdom. He is one of the most famous kings in Egyptian history, his name being preceded by a rubric of red ink in the Turin Canon.

He was responsible for constructing the world's first monumental stone building, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The pyramid's design evolved throughout its construction and its architectural form changed as the Egyptians adapted to their new building material (stone, as opposed to mud bricks). The architect of the Step Pyramid is thought to have been Djoser's son, Imhotep, who was later deified for his achievements. The fact that Djoser was able to build such a massive and innovative structure suggests that during his reign Egypt was politically stable, with a successful economy.

The Step Pyramid is made of six giant steps. It has a ground plan of 459ft x 387ft (140m x 118m) and a height of 197ft (60m). The entire enclosure measures 1,788ft x 908ft (545m x 277m). It contains many chambers, including a court known as the "Heb-Sed" designed to provide the king with the necessary setting to repeat his jubilee ceremony in the afterlife. There is a relief depicting King Djoser in the Step Pyramid performing this rite, which involved him running a fixed course accompanied by Nekhen, 'the priest of the souls'. It is thought that this ceremony may have derived from a primitive belief that the fertility of the fields was dependent on the physical ability of the king.

As well as being the first stone pyramid in Ancient Egypt, the Step Pyramid also boasts a superstructure unparalleled among other Old Kingdom pyramids. During excavations of the many underground passageways and galleries, 40,000 ceramic and stone vessels - dating back to the reigns of Djoser's predecessors - have been found.

Against the Northern face of the Step Pyramid there is a small room known as the Serdab. The front face of the Serdab is angled at 17 degrees, the same angle as the steps of the pyramid themselves. Inside the serdab would have stood the cult statue of Djoser, a copy stand there today and the original is in the Cairo Museum. Two "peep holes" in the Serdab enabled offerings to be made to the statue inside.

The restored impressive entrance to Djoser's pyramid complex.	The Heb-sed court within the enclosure walls of Djoser's pyramid complex.	Cult statue of Djoser viewed through the peep-holes in the serdab on the northern side of the pyramid.

The Serapeum

This was burial place of the sacred Apis Bulls. Strabo, the Greek author, writing in the 1st century AD, had spoken of a sanded up avenue of sphinxes leading to the famous Serapeum. Napoleon's expedition had searched for the Serapeum in vain, however in 1850 Auguste Mariette and his team uncovered an avenue of over a hundred sphinxes. As excavations continued over the following weeks, Mariette and his team eventually came to a buried temple courtyard. Entry to the catacomb was finally achieved on the 12th November 1851, almost a year after Mariette's inspired search had begun.

Entrance to the Serapeum	Underground galleries of the Serapeum

The subterranean galleries of the Serapeum consisted of a long gallery inset with numerous votive stelae and sealed by a huge sandstone door. Side chambers contained 24 magnificent granite sarcophagi, which had been prepared between year 52 of Psammetichus I of the 26th Dynasty and the end of the Ptolemaic period. The sarcophagi would have contained the mummified remains of the Apis Bulls, which were considered by the Ancient Egyptians to be the earthly incarnations of the city god of Memphis. All the sarcophagi in this gallery had been emptied in antiquity.

In 1852, further galleries, known as the Lesser Vaults, were discovered, with similar rock hewn chambers. These chambers had contained bulls in wooden coffins, dating from year 30 of Ramesses the Great down to the 22nd Dynasty. In one of these chambers, a burial of Apis XIV, made in year 55 of Ramesses the Great, had survived intact.

Mariette's work at the Serapeum continued throughout 1852, and resulted in the discovery of a third series of smaller bull burials, the earliest yet uncovered, ranging in date from Amenophis III of the 18th Dynasty down into the 19th Dynasty. Again, one of these burials, which contained two coffins of Apis VII and Apis IX, was discovered intact. Various shabtis, canopic jars and amulets were also discovered.

Other pyramid complexes at Saqqara

The Step Pyramid of Djoser. The world's first ever pyramid.	Mastaba el-Faraun, the tomb of Shepseskaf, who was the last Pharaoh of the 4th Dynasty and the son of Menkaure.	Pyramid of Userkaf who was considered to be the founder of the 5th Dynasty. His pyramid is little more than a ruined heap of rubble.

There are a considerable number of pyramid complexes at Saqqara, although many are now ruined and appear to be little more than heaps of rubble.

The Lost Pyramid of Sekhemkhet at Saqqara - 3rd Dynasty. This unfinished pyramid complex is the largest of a series of "lost" pyramids. Whilst there was a known successor to Djoser, Sekhemkhet's name was unknown until 1951, when the levelled foundation and vestiges of an unfinished Step Pyramid were discovered at Saqqara by Zakaria Goneim. Only the lowest step of the pyramid had been constructed at the time of his death. The unfinished complex bears a close resemblance to that of Djoser's Step Pyramid, both in layout and design.

The Mastaba el-Faraun at Saqqara - 4th Dynasty. The mastaba is situated in the south of Saqqara in an isolated area. It is the tomb of Shepseskaf, who was the last Pharaoh of the 4th Dynasty and the son of Menkaure. Unlike his immediate predecessors and his successors, Shepseskaf chose the form of a mastaba rather then a pyramid for his tomb. It's quite possible he was responsible for the completion of his father's pyramid at Giza. Shepsekaf ruled for only a very short time, maybe as little as four years.

Pyramid of Userkaf at Saqqara - 5th Dynasty. Userkaf was considered to be the founder of the 5th Dynasty. His pyramid was called "Pure are the (cult) places of Userkaf", but today it is little more than a ruined heap of rubble. Possibly for political reasons as well as the religious ones, he sited his pyramid in the shadows of Djoser's Step Pyramid. Userkaf's pyramid was most likely built in horizontal layers, and rough local limestone was used in the pyramid's core, with a fine, while limestone casing.

	The Pyramid of Unas at Saqqara - Late 5th Dynasty. The last ruler of the 5th Dynasty Unas seems to have been the first to inscribe the pyramid texts on the internal walls of his pyramid. The standard of workmanship in pyramid building declined along with the political and economic structure of the Old Kingdom. Known as "Beautiful are the places of Unas" it is now ruined, and looks more like a small hill than a royal pyramid.
	Pyramid of Teti I at Saqqara - 6th Dynasty. Teti was the founder of the 6th Dynasty. His pyramid was discovered in 1853 by Mariette, but it is mostly a pile of rubble in constant danger of being covered by the sand. The pyramid was known as "Teti's (cult) places are enduring". The valley temple of Teti's pyramid, together with the 300 metre long causeway leading to the mortuary temple have yet to be archaeologically investigated. They are located to the southwest of the pyramid, as opposed to east. Part of the causeway is visible however, as it meets the mortuary temple.
	Pyramid of Pepi II at Saqqara - 6th Dynasty. Pepi II's pyramid in South Saqqara was the last to be built in the best traditions of the Old Kingdom. It was named "Pepi's life is enduring", which indeed it was, for he reigned for many years. Pepi II was the last ruler of Egypt's 6th Dynasty, and in fact the last significant ruler of the Old Kingdom prior to the onset of the First Intermediate Period. His mortuary complex was built and decorated in what is considered to be a much poorer manner than those of his predecessors.