It was built in the early Third Dynasty, during the reign of King Netjerykhet c. Before his reign, royal and elite Egyptians were buried in mastabas. The Step Pyramid is composed of six stacked mastabas, thus creating the stepped effect. Mastabas became the foundation — literally — for the step pyramid. Imhotep used the box-like monument structure and stacked several mastabas on top of each other, building up into the sky.
Today, the foot-tall pyramid pales in comparison to the foot-tall Great Pyramid, which was built to honor King Khufu. But the Pyramid of Djoser's legacy lives on. The landmark recently reopened for public viewing after a year restoration period — its place in history secured, in part, by the world wonder that it preceded and influenced.
Register or Log In. The Magazine Shop. Login Register Stay Curious Subscribe. Planet Earth. The tunnels beneath the pyramid form a labyrinth about 3. The pyramid is at the center of a complex 37 acres 15 hectares in size. This complex is surrounded by a recessed limestone wall that contains 13 fake doorways as well as the real colonnade entrance on the southeast side.
A temple lies on the north side of the pyramid along with a statue of the king. To the south of the pyramid lies a great court, with an altar and stones identified as boundary markers. These structures would have served ritual purposes and, curiously, they appear to have been partly buried by their builders, notes Egyptologist Mark Lehner in his book "The Complete Pyramids. Determined to produce the most impressive structure that the world had ever seen, Imhotep innovated on the design of pre-existing tombs.
There are no records documenting the construction of the Djoser Pyramid, but historians have speculated that it would likely have taken years to complete, as well as the labor of many hundreds of workers. Just like Django, the D is silent. Although he was Pharaoh for around two decades, little is known about his reign. During his years in power, larger and longer-lasting monuments began to be constructed across his kingdom, often under the eye of Imhotep.
One engraving from the 4th century BC records that Pharaoh Djoser saved Egypt from famine by rebuilding a temple dedicated to the god Khnum , who was believed to control the Nile. Found alongside his remains were up to 40, stone urns.
These vessels are inscribed with the names of the Pharaohs from the First and Second Dynasty, and continue to pose a mystery to modern archaeologists. The Djoser Pyramid soars up to 62m in height, and at its center sits a vast burial shaft 28m in depth and 7m in width.
It was easily the tallest structure of its times, and made a striking addition to the otherwise two-dimensional landscape. The pyramid was not only a singular structure, but accompanied by a vast complex which included courtyards, shrines, temples and lodgings for priests. The acre area was surrounded by an immense wall over 10m high, which had 13 false doors and only one true entrance.
To further deter unwanted visitors, a 40m wide trench was dug around the outer wall. Only the privileged few with permission were able to enter the extraordinary monument. The pyramid itself consists of six vast layers of mastabas, gradually getting smaller as they reach the summit. This design reflects the ascension of Djoser to the rank of a god.
The Djoser Pyramid is found in the Saqqara necropolis, situated in the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis.
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