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Coordinates: 29°52′16.56″N, 31°12′59.02″E Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Pyramid of Djoser
Djoser
Constructed	2750 BCE
Type	Step Pyramid
Height	62 metres (203 ft)
Base	125.27 metres (411 ft) (larger) 109.12 metres (358 ft) (smaller)

The Pyramid of Djoser, or step pyramid or kbhw-ntrw, was built for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser-Netjerikhet by his Vizier Imhotep. It was constructed during the 27th century BC at the Saqqara necropolis to the northwest of the city of Memphis, and is the central feature of a vast mortuary complex in an enormous courtyard surrounded by ceremonial structures and decoration. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 560 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1050 pixel, file size: 1. ... // Ancient painting of Nuwa and Fu Xi. ... The Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, is one example of an enormous step pyramid. ... For other uses, see Pharaoh (disambiguation). ... Netjerikhet Consort(s) Inetkawes, Hetephernebti Unknown Father Khasekhemwy? Mother Nimaethap? Major Monuments Pyramid of Djoser Netjerikhet Djoser (Turin King List Dsr-it; Manetho Tosarthros) is the best-known pharaoh of the Third dynasty of Egypt, for commissioning the official Imhotep to build his Step Pyramid at Saqqara. ... This article is about the ancient Egyptian official. ... (28th century BC - 27th century BC - 26th century BC - other centuries) (4th millennium BC - 3rd millennium BC - 2nd millennium BC) Events 2900 - 2334 BC -- Mesopotamian wars of the Early Dynastic period 2775 - 2650 BC -- Second Dynasty wars in Egypt Germination of the Bristlecone pine tree Methuselah about 2700 BC, the... Saqqara Saqqara or Sakkara, Saqqarah (Arabic: سقارة) is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the worlds oldest standing step pyramid (). It is located some 30 km south of modern-day Cairo and covers an area of around 7 km by 1. ... For other uses, see Memphis. ...

This first Egyptian pyramid consisted of six mastabas (of decreasing size) built atop one another in what were clearly revisions and developments of the original plan. The pyramid originally stood 62 meters tall, and having a base of 109m x 125m and was clad in polished white limestone.^[1] The step pyramid (or proto-pyramid) is considered to be the earliest large-scale stone construction, although the nearby enclosure known as Gisr el-mudir would seem to predate the complex. A mastaba was a flat-roofed, mud brick, rectangular building with inward sloping sides that marked the burial site of many eminent Egyptians of Egypts ancient period. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 10 m and 100 m. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 10 m and 100 m. ... To help compare different orders of magnitude this page lists lengths between 10 m and 100 m. ... The Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, is one example of an enormous step pyramid. ... Located just at Saqqara in Egypt, just west of Sekhemkhets pyramid complex, this massive enclosure seems to date from the Second dynasty. ...

Pyramid Complex

The entrance to the mortuary temple

Much of the decoration and construction of the structures within the pyramid complex, although built of stone, echo the appearance of earlier structures, which would have been built of wood, reeds or mud-brick. Whether this is due to artistic, symbolic or technological convention is unknown, although it is likely a combination of all three. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 624 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Step pyramid, near Cairo, Eygpt. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 624 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Step pyramid, near Cairo, Eygpt. ...

The complex surrounding the Step Pyramid consists of an outer wall,10.5 metres (34 feet) high, built of finely cut limestone (some of which has been restored by Jean-Philippe Lauer), wrapping this, was a 'great trench', which was not continuous, but spiraled around overlapping at the south end. The wall was built to resemble woven mats, and decorated with niches. There are 15 doorways, only one of which is actually a real entrance. This massive enclosure seems to echo the massive mud-brick 'forts' of the First and Second dynasties at Abydos and Hierokonpolis. The Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, is one example of an enormous step pyramid. ... Jean-Philippe Lauer (May 7, 1902 – May 15, 2001), was a French architect and Egyptologist. ... Known rulers, in the History of Egypt, for the First Dynasty. ... Known rulers, in the History of Egypt, for the Second Dynasty. ... Abydos (Arabic: أبيدوس, Greek Αβυδος), one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt, is about 11 km (6 miles) west of the Nile at latitude 26° 10 N. The Egyptian name was Abdju (technically, 3bdw, hieroglyphs shown to the right), the hill of the symbol or reliquary, in which the sacred... Nekhen (Greek: Hierakonpolis, Arabic: Kom El-Ahmar) was the religious and political capital of Upper Egypt at the end of the Predynastic period ( 3200- 3100 BC.) and probably also during the Early Dynastic Period ( 3100 - 2686 BC). ...

The 'real' entrance consists of a colonnaded corridor which had a roof carved to imitate wooden logs. The actual entrance way is marked by 2 massive stone 'doors', carved in an open position.

Southern Tomb

The Southern Tomb is a near-duplicate of the underground structures under the pyramid, but without the above ground structures.

Great Court

Between the Southern Tomb and the Step Pyramid there is a large open area. Its true significance is unknown but it would seem to be have been associated with the ceremonies of kingship and may echo a similar area (still undiscovered) in the Royal residence in Memphis, in which the king would perform the same ceremonies.

The court is about 180 m by 100 m, and contained very few buildings or monuments.

Pyramid

The Step Pyramid

The pyramid was developed in stages, beginning as a mastaba similar to the mud brick tombs of earlier pharoahs. This was extended twice before being covered by a four stepped pyramid, which was later enlarged to the final six stepped form. step pyramid of djozer File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... step pyramid of djozer File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

Festival Complex

Temples of the festival complex

This courtyard area was built for celebrating the sed festival, when after thirty years of rule the pharaoh was expected to prove his continuing vigour by chasing the sacred bull around the courtyard and catching it by the tail. It is believed that Djoser chose to do this every three years rather than thirty. The corners of the buildings were made rounded for safety. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 515 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Step pyramid, near Cairo, Eygpt. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,280 × 960 pixels, file size: 515 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Step pyramid, near Cairo, Eygpt. ...

Mortuary Temple

Hypostyle hall of the mortuary temple

The only entrance to the complex was through the mortuary temple in the south eastern corner. From an antichamber one passes between stone block walls built in the shape of large open doors into the hypostyle hall with two rows of tapered stone columns carved to resemble papyrus bundles. A modern roof has been placed at the same height as the original roof. This hall leads into the great court. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (960 × 1,280 pixels, file size: 538 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Step pyramid complex, near Cairo, Eygpt. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (960 × 1,280 pixels, file size: 538 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Step pyramid complex, near Cairo, Eygpt. ...

External links

• Professor Treat offers an on-line tour of this ancient site.
• Location of the pyramid on Google Maps

References

• Verner, Miroslav, The Pyramids - Their Archaeology and History, Atlantic Books, 2001, ISBN 1-84354-171-8
• Kliener, Fred S., Art Through The Ages, Wadsworth, 2005, ISBN 0-15-505090-7

Coordinates: 29°52′16.56″N, 31°12′59.02″E Miroslav Verner is a Czech Egyptologist, who wrote the book The Pyramids - Their Archaeology and History, which is considered one of the leading books in its field. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...