The Pyramid of Djoser is a step pyramid in Saqqara, built for the Egyptian Pharaoh Djoser and designed by his vizier Imhotep. The pyramid dates back to the 27th century BC. and is thus, as far as is known, the first building to be built entirely in stone
The buildings in the complex were built of natural stone. These were the first buildings built entirely of stone in history. The buildings are from the time of the 2nd Dynasty. Many resemble hieroglyphs (such as the heb-sed-court). Investigation has revealed that some of the buildings were immediately buried again after they were delivered by Imhotep. Apparently they weren't for the living but for the dead.
M2: When the first piece was completed, it was expanded by four meters on both sides but not as high as the original, making it look like a small step pyramid.
M3: The building was expanded again by eight and a half meters, this one again smaller than the rest.
P1: Three smaller mastabas were placed on top of the original mastaba so that it became a stairway to heaven and towering into the landscape.
P2: The pyramid expanded in the north and west and a little bit in the south and east of the pyramid. Two more stairs were put on it.
A whole network of corridors had been built underground. Originally one could descend via a stairway to the centrally located grave. Later this was replaced by a shaft that sloped more towards the grave. Downstairs there were three storehouses located south, east, and north of the tomb. There was also a false door, characteristic of the Old Kingdom.
The location
The pyramid and the accompanying complex were built on a site where several older mastabas from the 1st and 2nd dynasty already stood. The Pyramid Complex of Djoser was located to the southwest of this Mastaba field. The site on which the complex was built was already in use by a number of kings from the 2nd Dynasty. The known graves are those of Hotepsechemoei and Nynetjer.
The complex around it
The pyramid was in an entire complex, which was located within a rectangular enclosure (544 × 277 m). The wall around it was 11 m high and had only one entrance. For that time enormous dimensions, which could accommodate a city. Inside was a courtyard, the Heb-sed court, chapels, the serdab court, the south and north houses, and the mortuary temple where the king was worshiped. Most buildings from that time were filled with rubbish, but the buildings on this site were beautifully decorated with green-blue tiles.
The buildings in the complex were built of natural stone. These were the first buildings built entirely of stone in history. The buildings are from the time of the 2nd Dynasty. Many resemble hieroglyphs (such as the heb-sed-court). Investigation has revealed that some of the buildings were immediately buried again after they were delivered by Imhotep. Apparently they weren't for the living but for the dead.
The pyramid
The step pyramid was not originally set up as such, but started as mastaba, a classic Egyptian tomb shape. In later stages, the base was increased to 126 by 109 meters, and smaller steps were added. In the end there were six stairs for a total height of more than 60 meters. Below the pyramid there are several galleries and chambers and one of those chambers is the actual burial chamber. There is a small tomb in the south wall, in which was the ka image of the pharaoh. The name step pyramid does not originate from ancient times but from the 19th century. The building is so called because the pyramid is not a mathematical pyramid, but consists of stairs, as it were. The pyramid can be seen when it is clear from Cairo.
The pyramid is built in several layers. A number of phases can be understood, namely:
M1: A perfect mastaba with a core of local natural stone surrounded by limestone with a wall around it.
M2: When the first piece was completed, it was expanded by four meters on both sides but not as high as the original, making it look like a small step pyramid.
M3: The building was expanded again by eight and a half meters, this one again smaller than the rest.
P1: Three smaller mastabas were placed on top of the original mastaba so that it became a stairway to heaven and towering into the landscape.
P2: The pyramid expanded in the north and west and a little bit in the south and east of the pyramid. Two more stairs were put on it.
A whole network of corridors had been built underground. Originally one could descend via a stairway to the centrally located grave. Later this was replaced by a shaft that sloped more towards the grave. Downstairs there were three storehouses located south, east, and north of the tomb. There was also a false door, characteristic of the Old Kingdom.
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