The oldest necropolis of Memphis is in Saqqara, Egypt. It is located on the west bank of the Nile, about 40 kilometres south of Cairo. The name Saqqara comes from the name of the burial god Sukkar. It is about 6.2 kilometres long and is located on the western plateau. It is part of the ancient Memphis necropolises along the river from Abu Rawash north to Dahshur in the south. Its importance lies in the fact that it was used in Egypt since the First Dynasty and is still used today. Saqqara is one of the most critical places for archeology in Egypt. Its ruins date back over 3,000 years, from ancient Egyptian tombs to Coptic monasteries.
Cemetery of Saqqara:
Saqqara is an ancient necropolis near the Nile. It is located in a desert where people switched from using mastabas as tombs to building the pyramids, which are more famous today.
There was an intermediate step between the mastaba and the Pyramid. This proto-pyramid was used to improve later pyramid designs until they reached the grandeur of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Saqqara originated as the royal necropolis of Memphis, the capital of the Old Kingdom and was located west of Saqqara.
The most important of these “typical” pyramids is the mortuary complex of Pharaoh Djoser (Djoser), built during the Third Dynasty of the ancient Egyptian Empire. It is home to the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser, the oldest of the Great Pyramids of Egypt.
Saqqara was used as a burial place for officials for a while but was eventually left alone, and everything but Djoser’s Pyramid was buried in the sand for hundreds of years.
Then, in 1851, Auguste Mariette found the serapeum. Since then, Saqqara has become a place where people often see things.
The step pyramid of Saqqara:
The Step Pyramid of Saqqara is odd because it looks more like a staircase than a pyramid. This is what the Egyptians wanted because they believed it would help the spirit of Pharaoh Djoser ascend to heaven and meet the gods and other dead pharaohs.
It took Djoser and his famous architect Imhotep some time to decide on the shape of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. First, they built a square building with only one floor. Then they made it a little bigger, then a little bigger. They were still not sure, so they added three steps on top. The building now has four floors, but Imhotep and Djoser wanted something more impressive, so they added two more. Now that they had achieved what they wanted, they were happy. It was a beautiful six-story building called the Step Pyramid of Saqqara.
Saqqara pyramids:
1- The Pyramid of Unas
Pyramid of Unas: The Pyramid of Unas is the smallest in Saqqara. The main thing about it is that it contains writings that were supposed to help the pharaoh in the afterlife.
Inside, Gaston finds strange texts written on the walls of the tombs, along with many other treasures. These writings and those found in other nearby pyramids are what we now call the Pyramid Texts, and Unas was also the first pharaoh to place them in his tomb.
Unas made it fashionable to write magic spells on the walls, incantations that could accompany the pharaoh on his last journey or, who knows, drive away intruders. This movement began to spread like wildfire among the wealthiest people, who could be buried with honour.
2- The Buried Pyramid
Since the Sekhemkhet only ruled briefly, the Sekhemkhet hierarchy never ended. It is about 7 meters high, and a closed but empty coffin was found inside the tomb.
After the death of Pharaoh Sekhmet, this Pyramid ceased to be of interest, and sand slowly covered it. The Buried Pyramid was not called until 1950 when an Egyptologist named M. Zakaria Ghoneim.
The burial chamber of the Skhemkhet pyramid was cut into underground rock. When it was found, a stone wall blocked the entrance. This made the archaeologists believe they would finally find an ancient imperial tomb that had not been raided. Inside was a closed and sealed alabaster sarcophagus. The disappointment was great when the coffin was opened: the inside was empty.
Sekhmekht was not buried there. The Egyptian pyramids have many mysteries, which just added to the list.
3- Userkaf pyramid
Userkaf, the first king of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt, returned to Saqqara and built his Pyramid north of the stepped pyramidal enclosure behind the western wall. By placing the Pyramid in this place, he may have had to excavate part of the shaft of the Step Pyramid. The pyramid complexes of the Fifth Dynasty at Saqqara can only be accessed from the valley floor via a road.
4- Pyramid of Teti
He tried to centralise government during his time in power by drawing on officials and leaders from the Unas era. In the end, his bodyguards killed him, and he was buried in the royal cemetery of Saqqara.
Regarding how it was built, the base of the Tete Pyramid measures 78 meters wide and 52 meters high.
Where is Saqqara located?
The area is about 17 kilometres from Giza and 30 kilometres from Cairo. The best time to visit is after seeing the Pyramids of Giza. Since taxis will be challenging to find, the best way to know the area is on tour or in a private vehicle.
Saqqara entrance:
When you get to Saqqara, you’ll have to pay cash for your entrance ticket and walk through a gorge to get inside the valley and your first stop in the area, which is a rectangular space filled with what were once colonnades that still stand today because the site has been repaired. Once inside, you will be approached by locals who want to tell you about the area and show you around. If you are interested, go ahead with the tour and give a tip at the end. If not, tell him nicely that you are not interested in what he offers.
