What is the significance of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara?
Djoser’s Step Pyramid complex included several structures pivotal to its function in both life and the afterlife. A pyramid was not simply a grave in ancient Egypt. Its purpose was to facilitate a successful afterlife for the king so that he could be eternally reborn.
Why is the Pyramid of Djoser important?
Djoser’s Step Pyramid in Saqqara is one of Egypt’s most iconic monuments—and rightfully so. It constitutes a significant historical turning point in ancient Egyptian funerary monuments, revolutionizing stone architecture and royal burials.
What was the stepped pyramid at Saqqara covered with?
white limestone
It was what we now call a “step pyramid,” consisting of six terraces some 200 feet (60 m) high. But the king and his inventive architect did not stop there. Next they encased the surface in smooth white limestone, which must have caught the sunlight and reflected its rays.
How old is the Saqqara pyramid?
about 4,700 years ago
It was built about 4,700 years ago. Constructed at Saqqara about 4,700 years ago, the Step Pyramid of Djoser was the first pyramid the Egyptians built.
What is the main purpose of a pyramid?
Pyramids were built for religious purposes. The Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to believe in an afterlife. They believed that a second self called the ka lived within every human being. When the physical body expired, the ka enjoyed eternal life.
How long did it take to build the Pyramid of Djoser?
around 20 years
Estimates by Egyptologists suggest the Pyramid of Djoser, also known as the Saqqara Step Pyramid, took around 20 years to build. It had six layers, one on top of the other, and was 203 feet tall when first built. Egyptologists have guessed the Djoser pyramid completion dates were 2670–2650 BC.
Why was the Step Pyramid made?
The Step Pyramid was built during the Third Dynasty as the tomb for Pharaoh Djoser. It was designed by the famous architect, Imhotep, who was later deified.
What does Saqqara mean in Arabic?
Saqqara. Saqqara, also spelled Sakkara or Saccara in English, is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, serving as the necropolis for the Ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis.
Why is Saqqara famous?
Saqqara, the sweeping necropolis and pyramid field of Memphis, the first Capital of Egypt, has been an important historical site for 5,000 years of Egyptian history.