Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser (photo)

Buildings erected before our era cannot but attract the interest of modern mankind. The oldest of the mysterious structures is considered to be a step pyramid, the project of which was invented by the architect Imhotep. This miracle was created back in the 27th century and made a significant contribution to the study of one of the most ancient civilizations. What is known about the mysterious building that became the tomb of Pharaoh Djoser? What myths and facts are associated with it?

Step pyramid - what is it?

Historians have been able to establish that initially the architect Imhotep intended to build a traditional rectangular tomb. However, as he worked, this person made changes to his project, the end result of which was a stepped pyramid, consisting of 6 levels. The name of the building comes from the form it took.

Why did Imhotep stop at the stepped form? Researchers believe that his choice is due to a secret meaning, which is typical for many examples of ancient architecture. The steps symbolized the ascent to heaven, which, after death, the mighty ruler of Egypt was to make.

The Step Pyramid is a structure that can be admired not only on the lands of Africa. The buildings belonging to this type, located in Central America, have been perfectly preserved. Nevertheless, the tomb of Pharaoh Djoser was the first and therefore remains unique.

Location

The ancient landmark attracts thousands of tourists every year who are wondering how to get to it. The step pyramid erected by Imhotep is located in the “heart” of the Saqqara burial complex. In addition to the famous building on the territory of the necropolis, you can find many small temples and tombs. Approximately 30 km from Saqqara is the Egyptian city of El Giza.

The step pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser is comfortably located on the edge of the plateau. The place for the majestic construction was not chosen by its creator by chance. The researchers are convinced that Imhotep was fascinated by the wonderful view of Memphis. Interestingly, before the construction of this structure, the Egyptian tombs of the kings were located only in the settlement, which was called Abydos.

It is most convenient to get to Saqqara by signing up for an excursion, if tourists are not embarrassed by time constraints.

What is known about the creators of the pyramids?

The step pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser immortalized the Egyptian emperor, who did not distinguish himself in anything special during the years of his reign. Forever went down in history and the creator of a unique building - Imhotep. This man was a generalist scholar who served as the minister of the ruler of Egypt.

Imhotep managed to become the first architect whose name was carved on the statues of the emperor, he is also mentioned in the burial complex. History has not been able to accurately establish the years of this man's life, as well as the place of his burial. After leaving this world, the architect was deified, his contemporaries declared him the god of medicine. There are ancient religious buildings named after Imhotep, in the old days they attracted the sick, praying for healing. A statuette depicting an architect is currently present among the exhibits of the Louvre.

Use of stone

The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara was the first building of its kind in Egypt to use stone. Before the advent of the brainchild of Imhotep, all the tombs were built using raw bricks. Most of them disappeared before our era, as the material was not suitable for these purposes.

However, you should not blindly trust the guides who insist that this is the first large stone structure on the planet. Previously, the French Barnenes was erected, according to researchers, its age is over 6 thousand years.

Construction stages

Surprisingly, the step pyramid in Saqqara was built in 4 stages, which also became a kind of record in the world of Ancient Egypt. Despite the state in which the structure is today, every stage of its construction is easy to trace even now. This is possible due to the different masonry, configuration of chambers and tunnels.

The history of the mysterious building began with the creation of a rectangular tomb. As mentioned above, stone served as the material for it. However, the result did not suit the Egyptian pharaoh. As the researchers suggest, the problem was the modest size of the structure. The second stage is an increase in the rectangular structure in length and width.

The step pyramid is what the building was in the third stage. She acquired three additional add-ons, eventually getting four tiers. The pharaoh was again dissatisfied, so the tomb was expanded again, adding two upper tiers. Using raw brick, the Egyptians would not have been able to achieve this. Not surprisingly, the use of stone after the completion of the pyramid at Saqqara came into vogue.

Technical details

The height of the six-stage pyramid is about 60 meters. For comparison, the same indicator for a building with 16 floors is no more than 43 meters. The foundation of the building, erected by the will of Djoser, once totaled 125 by 115 meters. The destructive impact of nature, which the structure has been subjected to over the centuries, has reduced its size.

Purpose

Traditionally, the tombs contained only the remains of Egyptian kings. The Step Pyramid of Djoser, the photo of which can be admired in this article, turned out to be revolutionary in this regard as well. The building became the last refuge not only for the ruler himself, but also for his children and wives.

Historians have not been able to determine the exact number of representatives of the dynasty, whose bones were left inside the pyramid after death. It is only known that there were more than a dozen of them. A curious discovery was the mines located on the eastern side. Their depth is 32 meters, while the depth of the main shaft, which received the body of the emperor, does not exceed 28 meters.

Some researchers are convinced that the mysterious mines were prepared for Djoser's harem. If this theory is confirmed, it will turn out that the number of "inhabitants" of the tomb went beyond a hundred. There are also people who claim that the mines were a place for treasure. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find out, since raids on the values ​​of the tomb were made in ancient times.

underground tunnels

The Pyramid of Djoser, created under the leadership of Imhotep, is not a comfortable place for walking. Once in the tunnels, the length of which in the aggregate exceeds 5.5 km, you can not find a way out. For comparison: the tunnels of the tomb of Cheops occupy no more than a few hundred meters.

What is inside?

Often travelers who manage to see the majestic pyramids from the inside feel deceived. They do not discover any colorful frescoes or mysterious inscriptions. The Step Pyramid of Djoser, inside which it is now extremely difficult to find oneself, will definitely not make its visitors experience such disappointment.

Tourists will be fascinated by being in the burial chamber, the walls of which are decorated with multi-colored tiles (green, turquoise). Products used in the times of Ancient Egypt are visually similar to the ceramic tiles of our days. Of course, modern materials would hardly have survived 4600 years, while the tiles created by ancient people are well preserved.

The bas-reliefs decorating the walls, which depict images of Egyptian gods, are also charming. They have survived to this day in a better condition than tiles, because they are located on the surface of granite blocks. The excavations also revealed the remains of a sarcophagus belonging to a powerful pharaoh. In addition, inside you can admire the images of the five-pointed star. The Egyptians in those days associated this symbol with the abode of the dead.

You can also admire three bas-relief drawings with portraits of Djoser. The ruler of Egypt was depicted during his participation in religious rites, the head of the pharaoh is crowned with a traditional crown.

Information for tourists

Some disappointment is caused by the state in which the step pyramid of Djoser is now located. The architect managed to create a reliable building that has survived to this day, however, weather troubles and the actions of vandals significantly affected its appearance. Not surprisingly, a government decree forbids free entry into the sights. At the moment, reconstruction work is underway, so the monument is constantly surrounded by scaffolding.

Theoretically, it is possible to see what the pyramid of Djoser is like from the inside. To do this, you will need to obtain permission from the Egyptian Antiquities Service, but it will take a very long time. A visit to Sakkara is available daily, you can get to the territory of the necropolis from 8 to 16 hours. The exceptions are those days when the complex is closed to provide conditions for the work of archaeologists. Therefore, before the trip, it is worth clarifying whether Saqqara is currently open for tourists.

If you are going to see the brainchild of Imhotep with your own eyes, you should not forget about the weather conditions. Spending several hours under the sun without being able to take shelter inside a building is very difficult.