Pyramid of Djoser Saqqara necropolis The Step pyramid

The pyramid of Djoser, sometimes called the Step Pyramid of Djoser, is an archaeological site in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt, northwest of the ruins of Memphis. It is the first pyramid to be built. The 6-tier, 4-sided structure is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt.

What is a step pyramid?

A step pyramid or stepped pyramid is an architectural structure that uses flat platforms, or steps, receding from the ground up, to achieve a completed shape similar to a geometric pyramid. Step pyramids are structures which characterized several cultures throughout history, in several locations throughout the world.

Who was buried in the step pyramid?

The ancient Egyptian pharaoh that gave the pyramid its name, Djoser, sometimes spelled Zoser (though he was actually called Netjerykhet) ruled during Egypt's third dynasty. Scholars attribute the planning of the pyramid to Imhotep, a vizier who would later be deified for his accomplishments.

The Step Pyramid of Djoser was built about 4,700 years ago with six layers above ground and a series of tunnels below.

The sheer age of the Step Pyramid is astounding. It was built in the early Third Dynasty, during the reign of King Netjerykhet (c.2667–2648 BC), who is now more well-known as Djoser.

Before his reign, royal and elite Egyptians were buried in mastabas. This word, meaning “bench” in Arabic, refers to a type of funerary structure that was generally rectangular in shape and built over the tomb proper, which was underground. The Step Pyramid is composed of six stacked mastabas, thus creating the stepped effect. Imhotep, its architect, may very well have been responsible for this major innovation.

At one end of the pyramid complex, a structure known as the South Tomb is believed to have acted as an additional, symbolic, tomb for Djoser, perhaps reflecting his role as the dual king of both Upper and Lower Egypt.

Djoser’s pyramid complex also has some unique features. The two courts in front of the pyramid recreate the setting of the Sed Festival, a royal ceremony aimed at rejuvenating the king and regenerating his power. The structures on the side of the eastern court emulate in stone the ephemeral shrines that were used in this festival, thus ensuring that the king could continue being rejuvenated forever.

Visiting the Pyramid of Djoser Today 

Today, the Pyramid of Djoser remains a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the globe to marvel at its ancient grandeur. Efforts to preserve and restore this architectural wonder continue, ensuring that future generations can experience its historical significance.

Guided Tours: Visitors can take guided tours of the Saqqara necropolis, providing in-depth insights into the history and architecture of the Step Pyramid and surrounding structures. 

Virtual Tours: For those unable to visit in person, virtual tours offer an immersive experience, allowing exploration of the pyramid’s intricate details from anywhere in the world.

How to Access the Virtual Tour

3D Models and Animations: Engage with interactive 3D reconstructions and animations that bring the ancient structures to life, showing how they would have appeared in their prime.

Access here free : Virtual Tour in The Complex of Djoser

The Southern Tomb

The South tomb is located at the southwestern corner of the King Djoser funeral complex, dating to the 3rd Dynasty, Old Kingdom period. This magnificent complex is the oldest stone building of the ancient world. Basically, it was named the “Southern Tomb'” following its discovery by the English archaeologist Cecil Malaby Firth in 1928.

Significantly, the tomb is composed of an upper level in the form of a rectangular stone building. Its walls are decorated with a series of stone sockets in the form of entrances and exits, crowned by a frieze of cobra heads that symbolize protection and power.

The lower level of the tomb consists of an entrance towards a ramp leading to the burial chamber, which is located at the bottom of a great shaft measuring 7.5 x 7.5 m, and with a depth of approximately 31 m. It housesg a large sarcophagus made of 16 blocks of pink granite, each measuring approximately 3.60 metres high, 3.5 metres wide, and 3.6 metres long. urthermore, one can note the similarity between the shaft and the sarcophagus with those inside the step pyramid.

One of the most important architectural and decorative elements of the Southern Tomb are a series of corridors, one of which contains three false doors, each topped with exquisite reliefs depicting the king taking part in the Heb-Sed Festival. This was a vital event, a royal jubilee, with the aim of rejuvenating the king and renewing his right to rule. One can admire the king represented wearing the royal beard, as well as the White Crown of Upper Egypt. Several walls of the southern tomb’s corridors are decorated with the same blue faience tiles into the step pyramid.

Various theories have been proposed about this tomb, as it is believed that it belonged to the royal wife of the king, or that it was built in order to house the internal organs of the king (lungs, stomach, intestines and liver).

The famous French Egyptologist Jean-Philippe Lauer undertook many important excavations at Saqqara, including the restoration and reconstruction of Djoser’s Step Pyramid Complex throughout a period of over 70 years. Lauer believed that this South Tomb was a symbolic burial for the king’s soul, replacing the royal tomb at Abydos (in the Sohag governorate).

In 2006, restoration work of the South Tomb began. It involved conservation and restoration work of the lower corridors, strengthening of the walls and ceilings, fixing of the blue faience tiles to complete the interior inscriptions in the tomb, as well as  reassembling and restoring the granite sarcophagus. In addition, this conservation project also included the paving of floors and the installation of a ladder; installations of indoor and outdoor lighting provide the visitor an enhanced and enjoyable experience.