None of Djoser's accomplishments or building projects are as impressive, however, as his eternal home at Saqqara. According to Egyptologists, the pyramid complex was so large that it compared to a large city during the third millennium BC. the famous Temple of Hatshepsut was only built 1,200 later! In spite of the extremely complex tunnels and labyrinth used in the burial chamber of Djoser, grave robbers were still able to make away with majority of the items stored in there. He spent about 75 years of his life uncovering and reconstructing parts of the Djoser Complex. [10] The king sought to associate himself with the eternal North Stars that never set so as to ensure his rebirth and eternity. The HMHS Britannic was one of the three ocean liners built by the Harland and Wolff shipyard as one of the White Star Line's Olympic-class of ships. It has been facing the conditions for many centuries, and in 1992, a massive earthquake damaged a lot of the interior of the building. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. [16] This phase of the pyramid had four steps that rose to a height of 42m (138ft; 80cu). Djoser had two Hellenized names. An extensive network of underground galleries was located to the north, west and south of the central burial chamber and crude horizontal magazines were carved into these. Little is known of Djoser's reign. Djoser (other names include Netjerikhet, Tosorthos, and Sesorthos) was the first Pharaoh, or king of the Third Dynasty of Egypt, c. 2670 BCE. The staircase then continues east and leads to a gallery that imitates the blue chambers below the step pyramid. Prior to Djoser's reign, mastaba tombs were the customary form for graves: rectangular monuments made of dried clay brick which covered underground passages where the deceased was entombed. It covered a region of 16 hectares and was surrounded by a wall 10.5 meters high. During the subsequent decades, the Djoser Pyramid would become a symbol of this enthusiasm, with countless archaeologists and artists visiting Saqqara to make records of the remains. After fourteen years of a $6.6 million-dollar restoration work, the 4,700-year-old structure was. That was about 100 years before the Great Pyramid of Giza was built. According to legend, Memphis was founded by Pharaoh Menes, who united the Upper and Lower Kingdoms of Egypt over 5000 years ago. This design reflects the ascension of Djoser to the rank of a god. The pyramid is the central feature of a vast mortuary complex in an enormous courtyard surrounded by ceremonial structures and decoration. The style of architecture of those buildings reproduced in minutest detail the wood, reed, and brick forms employed in utilitarian construction in Egypt. Mark has lived in Greece and Germany and traveled through Egypt. Last modified February 14, 2016. The restoration faced further scrutiny when the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities were accused of hiring a firm that had no experience working on ancient sites. Such statues are present in the monuments of the Fourth Dynasty, but no trace of them has been uncovered at Djoser's complex. Second, and more importantly, Djoser is known for his funerary monument, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, which was notably built out of stone blocks rather than mud bricks . This article was most recently revised and updated by. The Pharaoh was so impressed by Imhoteps almighty construction that he immortalized the architect by having his name carved beside his own on a plinth inside the Egyptian pyramid. It dates back to around 2630 BCE, while construction on the Great Pyramid of Giza began in 2560 BCE, roughly 70 years later. Some experts claim that Hetphernepti was also his half-sister. For reasons which remain unclear, Djoser's vizier, Imhotep (c. 2667 BCE), conceived of building a more impressive tomb for his king by stacking mastabas on top of one another, progressively making them smaller, to form the shape now known as the Step Pyramid. The actual chambers of the tomb, where the king's body was laid to rest, were dug beneath the base of the pyramid as a maze of tunnels with rooms off the corridors to discourage robbers and protect the body and grave goods of the king. Although the plan of Djoser's pyramid complex is different from later complexes, many elements persist and the step pyramid sets the stage for later pyramids of the 4th, 5th, and 6th Dynasties, including the great pyramids of Giza. He witnessed these ceremonies through two small eye holes cut in the north wall of the serdab. The Step Pyramid of Djoser, constructed at Saqqara about 4,700 years ago, was the first pyramid the Egyptians ever built. The pyramid of Djoser (or Djeser and Zoser), sometimes called the Step Pyramid of Djoser, is an archaeological site in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt, northwest of the ruins of Memphis. [18][33] The alteration from mastaba to pyramid came with a shift in construction. It wasnt until the New Kingdom, between the 16th and 11th centuries B.C., that Netjeriykhet was being referred to as Djoser. Yes, the afterlife palace of the pharaoh was meant to be just as luxurious as his palace in real life! At 750m (2,460ft; 1,430cu) long and 40m (130ft; 76cu) wide, the trench is the largest structure of this kind in the Memphis necropolis. Within the court are curved stones thought to be territorial markers associated with the Heb-sed festival, an important ritual completed by Egyptian kings (typically after 30 years on the throne) to renew their powers. In the 1920s, a team of British and French Egyptologists launched the first project to study the site, discovering the intricate complexities of the pyramid complex and uncovering its historical significance as the first of the Egyptian pyramids. In a bid to prevent the tunnels within the pyramid from collapsing, authorities embarked on a massive conservation exercise. [19] The west wall of the entrance colonnade has the form of an open door which leads into the south court. It has even featured in the video game Assassins Creed: Origins, where players have to enter its labyrinthine passageways to find a mystical ancient tablet. World History Encyclopedia. Its also assumed that one of the chambers was supposed to be the pharaohs harem (to have some fun in the afterlife), but this is contested by some historians. Three chambers of this substructure are decorated in blue faience to imitate reed-mat facades, just like the pyramid. He found interesting evidence of limestone blocks with five pointed stars in low relief that were likely on the ceiling, indicating the first occurrence of what would become a tradition. King Djoser Facts 2. Djoser was one of the rulers of Egypts Third Dynasty. [10], Before the enclosure wall, Djoser's pyramid complex is surrounded by a trench dug into the underlying rock. [16][20][a], In the early stages (M1 to M3) the structure had the form of a mastaba before alterations (P1 to P2) were made to create its step pyramidal form. A papyrus from the Roman period narrates a series of fictionalized adventures from the architects life, while another describes him as a descendant of the gods. Answer: iv ; 15. Fast Facts: Step Pyramid of Djoser Culture: 3rd Dynasty, Old Kingdom Egypt (ca. Many other buildings such as mastabas and temples were already erected at the complex and the first burials date back to the First Dynasty (3,100-2,900 B.C.). Strategically situated at the mouth of the Nile Delta, the city served as a commercial, economic and religious hub throughout ancient Egyptian history. Built ca. Whats actually inside is a labyrinth of tunnels with a total length of 6 kilometers (3.72 miles)! For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. The early mastabas had been decorated with inscriptions and engravings of reeds and Imhotep wanted to continue that tradition. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2023) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. On March 5, 2020 the UNESCO world heritage site was reopened to tourists after $6.6 million and 14 years of renovation work. [16][34] These leaned on each other from opposite ends providing greater stability preventing a collapse. During the classical period, stories circulated about the legendary figures of Djoser and Imhotep. Djoser was so proud of his accomplishment that he broke precedent of having only his own name on a monument and had Imhotep's name carved as well. It was Firth who, in 1924 CE, discovered the Serdab and Djoser's statue. Some of these buildings have niches for statues. Unlike most of the other pyramids that were built, the Pyramid of Djoser is a step pyramid and consists of 6 steps. The pyramid went through several revisions and redevelopments of the original plan. The evolution of the pyramid form has been written about and debated for centuries but there is no question that, as far as Egypt is concerned, it began with one monument to one king designed by one brilliant architect: the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara. The web of intricate tunnels leading up to the chambers is clad with blue tiles which were meant to resemble reed matting. It was eventually displaced as the capital when the city of Alexandria was founded in the 4th century BC, but still remains an important historical and archaeological site. Saqqara is a vast necropolis for ancient Egypt's former capital Memphis containing the pyramids of nearly 20 pharaohs. [15] In a modern context, the same element would be built by laying out the blocks to form the recesses. Lauer believes that a burial chamber of alabaster existed before the one of granite. The pyramid complex was enclosed by a wall with a single entrance at the southeast corner of the precinct. The following Facts about Djoser will tell the readers about an ancient pharaoh from Egypt during the Old Kingdom which took place in the third dynasty. The pyramids are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt and still hold enormous interest for people in the present day. This made it one of the Titanic's sister ships . The corridor is oriented slightly to the south-west. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. This was actually the First Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, a period between 2686 and 2181 B.C. These pillars reach up to 6.6 meters (22 feet) high and were attached to the wall of the entrance building. Web. Initially, tombs of kings and queens were underground. The Pyramid of Djoser was built in the 27th century B.C. Djoser most likely had many wives; however, the most famous wife of his was most likely queen Hetphernepti. Once covered in pink The Djoser Pyramid In Egypt: 10 Facts on The First Pyramid These vessels are inscribed with the names of rulers from the First and Second Dynasty of Egypt and are made from all kinds of stone such as diorite, limestone, alabaster, siltstone, and slate. The Step Pyramid was constructed during the Third Dynasty roughly 4,700 years ago (27th century BCE) for King Djoser. It was the largest building of its time. Lauer restored, excavated, and explored the Step Pyramid and its complex for the next fifty years. The whole idea of building a pyramid is to allow the pharaoh to have an easy transition to the afterlife. The ruins of this ancient city can be found near the town of Mit Rahina, about 20 kilometers to the southeast of Giza which in turn is located just outside of Egypts capital Cairo. The pyramids are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt and still hold enormous interest for people in the present day. 01 Mar 2023. [b] The first is a narrow 1.05m (3.4ft) wide by 6m (20ft) long corridor cut into the enclosure walls bastion. Pyramid of Djoser Historical Facts and Pictures. A majestic limestone structure in the heart of the Pyramid Complex of Saqqara, the Pyramid of Djoser (or Zoser) stands as one of the most renowned archaeological sites in the world. This corridor eventually leads to the South Court, a large square between the South Temple and the Pyramid. The pyramid contains a huge labyrinth of tunnels, 11. The pyramid of Djoser (or Djeser and Zoser ), sometimes called the Step Pyramid of Djoser, is an archaeological site in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt, northwest of the ruins of Memphis. Built entirely of stone, the innovative structure was a departure from the traditional use of mud bricks along with stone. The technological advances of the 18th century meant that Egypt began to attract more and more visitors from across the Mediterranean. The Great Pyramid at Giza may feature more commonly on Egyptian postcards, but it is the Pyramid of Djoser that was the first of its kind ever to be built. [14] It was the advent of the pyramidal form of the royal tomb and the first instance of the mass use of limestone in construction,[15] replacing mudbrick which had been the staple building material prior. In fact, modern Egyptology is thought to have officially begun with the invasion of Egypt by Napoleon Bonaparte in the late 1700s. There are intricate carvings inside as well, including one of a half-opened door which seems like an actual doorway. (Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities) CAIRO, EGYPT ABC News reports that the 14-year restoration of the step pyramid of Djoser, which is located in the Saqqara necropolis . Djoser's burial chamber was carved of granite and, to reach it, one had to navigate the corridors which were filled with thousands of stone vessels inscribed with the names of earlier kings. We would much rather spend this money on producing more free history content for the world. The basic material used was limestone blocks, whose form resembled that of large bricks of clay (115-116). With his base in Memphis, Djoser most likely. It was designed to hold the remains of Pharaoh Djoser by his architect, Imhotep . https://www.worldhistory.org/article/862/the-step-pyramid-of-djoser-at-saqqara/. The pyramid temple is situated at the north side of the pyramid, whereas in later pyramids it is on the east side. The false doors and the trench were incorporated into the complex to discourage unwanted guests. This intricate labyrinth of tunnels all leads to a central shaft that leads up to a 7-meter square that is located 27 meters (88 feet) below the ground. A total of 40,000 stone artifacts were found to suit him in his afterlife! The Djoser Pyramid has appeared again and again in popular culture throughout the millennia that have passed since its construction. The 40-acre area was surrounded by an immense wall over 10m high, which had 13 false doors and only one true entrance. Why Imhotep decided to change the traditional rectangular mastaba shape is unknown but it is probable that Imhotep had in mind a square-based pyramid from the start. The importance of names and images of pharaohs comes into play here in that the soul needed to be able to recognize its former home (physical body) on earth in order to be at rest in the afterlife. [41], Djoser's Step Pyramid complex included several structures pivotal to its function in both life and the afterlife. Mark, published on 14 February 2016. The Pyramid of Djoser wasnt the first structure to be built at the Saqqara Necropolis. 9. Since it was the first massive pyramid and because the site was used as a burial for thousands of years to come, it was severely robbed, which includes apparently the body of the pharaoh who was buried there. The Step Pyramid Of Djoser 3rd Dynasty Pyramid complex of Djoser built by Imhotep, Saqqara Djoser's funerary complex, created by the great architect Imhotep, is characteristic of the kind of cultural and architectural developments that took place during his reign. [44][46][47] Alan Spencer compares the design to the panelled construction of the palace faade, which imitates bound bundles of reeds. Where is the pyramid of Djoser located? His mother was queen Nimaathap, while his father was king Khasekhemwy. He uncovered the shafts and burial chambers, found and restored the blue faience rooms, and devoted himself to bringing the ancient site back to life. Djoser's tomb predates that of Sneferu, whose Red Pyramid was the first completed true pyramid, built sometime between 2613 and 2589 BCE. Mark, Joshua J.. "The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara." Pharaoh Djoser and eleven of his daughters were buried upon their deaths . [45] This is followed by a wider corridor flanked by 40 limestone columns, arranged in pairs, that fronted projecting walls, which formed alcoves. Napoleon brought a team of scholars and scientists along with his army who explored, examined, recorded, and studied the monuments of ancient Egyptian culture and who, among other accomplishments, discovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799 CE, the trilingual inscription stele which enabled French scholar Jean-Francois Champollion (1790-1832 CE) to decipher the Egyptian hieroglyphs and open up the history of ancient Egypt for the world. Here are 12 other interesting facts about Djoser Pyramid: The Step Pyramid of Djoser holds the record of being the world's first large-scale stone monument. [38], The main modern excavator of the Step Pyramid was Jean-Philippe Lauer, a French architect who reconstructed key portions of the complex. The pyramid itself consists of six vast layers of mastabas, gradually getting smaller as they reach the summit. [54] Near the beginning of the colonnade, at its eastern end, is a corridor which leads to the heb-sed court. Thus, paragraph A is equivalent to heading iv. [18] The decision was then made to expand the pyramid north and west from four to six steps (P1') which was then finished with a final layer of limestone casing (P2) that gave the pyramid its final form. Its architect was Imhotep, chancellor of the pharaoh and high priest of the god Ra. Last modified August 28, 2021, Your email address will not be published. The 6-tier, 4-sided structure is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt. Until then, Egyptian royal tombs had been underground . This means that it started out being built with the shape of a mastaba, but 6 steps were added on top of it. This courtyard, which contains the House of the North and the House of the South, also has thirteen small chapels. [44][45] The entrance was flanked by two towers leading to a passage past which lay the colonnaded entrance. How did the Ancient Egyptians move the large stones? Demi-god, architect, priest, and physician, Imhotep (27th century BCE) was a real man, who is credited with designing and building one of the oldest pyramids in Egypt, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The first pyramid (The Step Pyramid of Djoser built around 2600 BC - seen above) was originally surrounded by a 34 ft tall wall which had 15 doors in it. The Ancient Egyptians built numerous large pyramids, and this is one of the oldest of all. By Mia ForbesBA in ClassicsMia is a contributing writer from London, with a passion for literature and history. The phrase there is no question expresses certainty, which is equivalent to a certainty (title iv). A French Egyptologist uncovered a lot of the complex, 15. It consists of six huge mastabas, one on top of the other, in what were six distinctive revisions and developments of the original plan: a mastaba with a square base, 63 meters on a side, and eight meters high. After his death, Djosers sarcophagus was placed inside the burial chamber, deep within the great step pyramid. [4] The pharaoh dug a pit deep in the mound and by using the ramp the chambers and the access passage were constructed. It was built for the pharaoh Djoser who actually had another name 4. [5] The step pyramid (or proto-pyramid) was considered to be the earliest large-scale cut stone construction made by man as of 1997,[6] although the nearby enclosure wall "Gisr el-Mudir" is suggested by some Egyptologists to predate the complex, and the South American pyramids at Caral are contemporary. The Pyramid of Djoser, also spelled Zoser, is widely believed to be the oldest pyramid in the world. [12][13] The complex was a landmark achievement for Egyptian architecture. The History of Egyptian Hieroglyphs and the Rosetta Stone. Historian Margaret Bunson writes: The subterranean passages and chambers were adorned with fine reliefs and with blue faience tiles made to resemble the matted curtains of the royal residence at Memphis. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Originally 146 or 147 meters (479 or 482 feet) high, the Great Pyramid required 300,000 blocks and more than two million tons of stone. Miroslav Verner writes, "Few monuments hold a place in human history as significant as that of the Step Pyramid in SaqqaraIt can be said without exaggeration that his pyramid complex constitutes a milestone in the evolution of monumental stone architecture in Egypt and in the world as a whole (108-109)." Djoser, also spelled Zoser, second king of the 3rd dynasty (c. 2650-c. 2575 bce) of ancient Egypt, who undertook the construction of the earliest important stone building in Egypt. Unfortunately, all of the precautions and intricate design of the underground complex did not prevent ancient robbers from finding a way in. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. (plan: Franck Monnier, CC BY-SA 3.0) For Djoser's complex, a rectangular section of desert was delineated by boundary stela, a massive trench, and a wall containing an area of 37 acres. Unfortunately, the pyramid and its grand complex today is in danger of collapse owing to an earthquake which shook the region in 1992 CE and inadequate and incompetent efforts taken to preserve and restore it. As a result, the Egyptian government promised to fund extensive repairs to the Djoser Pyramid and the surrounding complex, in order to preserve this important piece of the nations history. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. Djoser had everything he needed for the afterlife, 12. As the complex was protected by a huge wall, there was one main entrance to enter the burial site. Reopened on 5 March, 2020, visitors are now invited to explore the pyramids labyrinthine passageways and surrounding structure, all of which were constructed several thousand years ago. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); World History Edu 2023. Djoser Pyramid is made up of 6 mastabas one above the other, giving the building its unique shape. Djoser probably succeeded his brother to the throne. Subsequently, work on the pyramid was grounded to a halt and was not resumed again until the end of 2013. Its most famous building was the Djoser pyramid, where six rectangular pieces in squares and stacked on top of each other. This article lays out all the facts you need to know about the important ancient monument. His mother was the queen Nimaathap and his wife the queen Hetephernepti, who was probably his half-sister. [10], Djoser's mortuary complex comprises the great trench, enclosure wall, colonnaded entrance, 'T' temple, Sed festival complex, north and south pavilions, south tomb and court, western mounds, mortuary temple, and the crowning feature of it all, the step pyramid with its substructure. Before the Djoser Pyramid, however, pharaohs were typically buried in rectangular tombs constructed out of slabs made from mud, called mastabas (literally benches). It remains one of the greatest mysteries in history: How did the Ancient Egyptians manage to build these enormous structures? Cleopatra: Seductress of Men or an Intelligent Leader? The Great Trench was about 750 meters (2,360 feet) long and 40 meters (130 feet) wide and historians believe it also served as extra protection for the complex. Was it the oldest large-scale stone structure ever built? The conservation was done with assistance from a host of international engineering companies. What we see on the outside is a step pyramid. The complex has a monumental entrance, 17. How long did it take to build the Step Pyramid of Djoser? Constructed in the 27th century BC, it is the earliest known pyramid, and its stepped sides became a prototype for the sleeker, smooth-sided pyramids at places like Giza. Much experimentation was involved, which is especially clear in the construction of the pyramid in the center of the complex. Were All Egyptian Pharaohs Buried in Pyramids? The ancient Egyptians held strong beliefs about the afterlife, burying their rulers with their possessions (and sometimes even their slaves!) 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