Giza, Egypt
Constructed as the tomb of Pharaoh Djoser (Netjerykhet), in the 27th century BC (roughly 4,700 years ago), the Step Pyramid of Djoser was the first Egyptian pyramid ever built.
Established as the central feature of a 37-acre mortuary complex, the Pyramid of Djoser was the design of Imhotep, an architect, and chancellor of the pharaoh who would later become deified for such achievements.
The pyramid initially started off as a mastaba tomb, but through a series of expansions eventually, the site evolved into a 197-foot high, six-layer pyramid consisting of 11.6 million cubic feet of stone and clay, surrounded by a 131-wide dry “moat” where most of the material used to build the pyramid was once found. Beneath the pyramid lies a dizzying expanse of tunnels and chambers that contains at its center a 90-foot deep shaft leading directly to the burial chamber of King Djoser.
The earlier mastaba-style tombs provided little protection from grave robbers who might dig their way to the burial chamber from the top, and the pyramid’s final design is thought to be an attempt to thwart those efforts although eventually all of the items once contained in the burial chamber were looted, including the mummy of Djoser himself.
Visit
The recommended best time to travel to the Step Pyramid of Djoser is September to November as that is when the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller.
The Pyramid of Djoser is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and costs 60 Egyptian pounds to enter, with a discounted rate of 30 Egyptian pounds for students.
Constructed as the tomb of Pharaoh Djoser (Netjerykhet), in the 27th century BC (roughly 4,700 years ago), the Step Pyramid of Djoser was the first Egyptian pyramid ever built.
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