Saqqara

Saqqara is a village thirty kilometers from Cairo, named after the God of the Dead, Sokar. The necropolis of Memphis, the first Egyptian capital, is located here. The length of this village is 7 km, and the width is from 500 to 1,500 m. In addition to the burial sites, there are 11 pyramids belonging to the kings (Teti, Pepi I, Pepi II). Burial processes took place mainly during the sixth, as well as the first, second and third dynasties.

Thus, Pharaoh Djoser belongs to the last of the listed dynasties, and he was buried here. His tomb is the building of Imhotep in 2650 BC. This is the main attraction of Sakkara – the step pyramid of Djoser. Now it is one of the largest structures in the ancient world. She is known among scientists as the mother of the pyramids. This is the grandest and the very first creation made of stone. Its base measures 160 m by 120 m, and its height is 60 meters. The pyramid consists of six stone steps that taper to the top, as well as burial spaces located deep underground. The architect Imhotep only shaped this pyramid-like structure, but subsequent builders were engaged in its improvement, emphasizing the clear lines of the geometric figure in the form of steps. There is now a replica of a small statue of Djoser in the tomb, as its original was sent to the Egyptian Museum. The main rooms of the tomb are a number of chambers that are cut out of the rocky ground. One of them placed a sarcophagus with a pharaoh, and the rest contained things that, according to the architects, the ruler would need in the other world.

There are also dozens of small tombs, pyramids and temples in Saqqara. Here you can see the tombs of the sacred bulls of Ptah, which were also called the Serapeum in the ancient world. This testifies to the veneration of the sacred bull. The dead Apis were embalmed. A special feature of the road that leads to the Serapeum is the statues of the great Greek philosophers.

From the southern side of the village of Saqqara, travelers can see the expanses that were once the capital of Lower Egypt – Memphis. Now there is almost nothing left of it, but tourists are attracted by the huge 20-meter statue of Ramesses II, which is located in a special pavilion. The Sphinx is located here, although it is not possible to compare it with the colossus of Giza in size. These structures once decorated the temple of Ptah.

The Imhotep Museum, which is located on the territory of the necropolis, is also presented to the attention of tourists. For once in your life, you need to see with your own eyes the place where this great civilization began.