The Saqqara Necropolis in Egypt :
Saqqara Egypt is the Site of the oldest necropolis of the city of Memphis, located on the western bank of the Nile 40 kilometers south of Cairo, Saqqara’s name derived from the name of the burial god Sokar. It stretches some 6.2 kilometers over the Western Plateau as part of a series of necropolises along the river from Abu Rowash in the north to Dahshur in the south, all belonging to the ancient Memphis capital. Their significance lies in their continued use from the first dynasty to the Christian in Egypt
Saqqara is one of the richest archaeological sites in Egypt. Its monuments span 3,000 years, from the earliest ancient Egyptian funerary structures to Coptic monasteries.
Egypt tomb Saqqara
Saqqara is an ancient burial complex located in a desert area near the Nile and is where the transition from the use of the mastaba as a burial site to the pyramid design that is more popularly known today took place.
Between the mastaba and the pyramid, there was an intermediate step, a proto-pyramid from which the designs of the later pyramids were perfected until reaching the majesty of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Sakkara developed as the royal necropolis for the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis, just to the west.
The most significant example of these ancient “prototype” pyramids can be found in the Funeral Complex of Pharaoh Djoser (Zoser), built during the third dynasty of the ancient Egyptian empire and which houses the Step Pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser, the oldest of the known large-scale pyramids in Egypt.
While Saqqara continued to be used as a burial site for officials for a time, it was eventually abandoned and, apart from Djoser’s pyramid, lay buried under sand for centuries.
Then, in 1851, Auguste Mariette discovered the Serapeum, since when regular finds have been made at Saqqara.
Saqqara step pyramid
Saqqara step pyramid is a bit strange because it doesn’t look like a pyramid, but rather a staircase. The truth is that that’s what the Egyptians wanted it to look like because thanks to it they thought that the soul of the pharaoh, Djoser, could ascend to the sky to meet the dead gods and pharaohs.
The step pyramid of Sakkara, it took some time for Djoser and his architect, the famous Imhotep, to decide to give it that shape. At first, they built a square building with only one floor, then they enlarged it a little and then a little more, but they were still not convinced, so they built three steps on top of it. Now the building had four floors, but Imhotep and Djoser wanted something more impressive, so they added two more. Now they were happy, they had finally built what they wanted – a magnificent six-story building now called Saqqara step pyramid.
The most famous Saqqara Egypt tombs
1-Pyramid of Unas
The Unas Pyramid: The Unas pyramid is the smallest in Saqqara and its main feature is the inscriptions of texts intended to help the pharaoh in the underworld.
Inside, among many other treasures, Gaston found some strange texts narrated on the walls of the burial chambers. These writings, along with those found in other nearby pyramids, are what we know today as the Pyramid Texts, Unas also being the first pharaoh to include them in his tomb.
Unas who made it fashionable to write magic spells on the walls spells that could accompany the pharaoh on his final journey or, who knows, keep intruders away. In any case, this current began to spread like wildfire among the wealthiest people, those who could be buried with dignity.
2-Buried Pyramid
Pyramid of Sekhemkhet is the Unfinished pyramid because of the short reign of the Sekhemkhet, reaches, about 7 meters high? Inside the funerary chamber, a sealed but was found empty sarcophagus
After the death of the pharaoh Sekhemkhet, this pyramid was losing interest, and step by step it would be buried by the sand. It was not until 1950 when the Egyptologist M. Zakaria Goneim discovered it when it started to be called the Buried Pyramid
The burial chamber of the Pyramid of Sekhemkhet was carved into the rock underground. When it was discovered, a stone wall closed off the access, which, being intact, with no holes for thieves, made archaeologists believe that they would finally find an Ancient Empire tomb inviolate. Inside was an alabaster sarcophagus that was closed and sealed. When the sarcophagus was opened, the disappointment was great: the interior was empty.
Sekhemkhet had never been buried there. Another mystery to be added to the abundant ones that the study of the pyramids of Egypt holds.
3-Pyramid of Userkaf
Userkaf, the first king of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt, returned to Saqqara and built his pyramid beyond the western wall of the step pyramid enclosure at its northern end. Placing the pyramid in this location, he possibly had to excavate part of the shaft of the step pyramid. The pyramid complexes of the fifth dynasty at Saqqara require access to them from the valley floor through a roadway.
4-Pyramid of Teti
During his reign he has tried to centralize the government, counting on various officials and administrators from the Unas period. Finally, he was killed by personal guards and buried in the royal necropolis of Saqqara.
Going to the architectural aspect of Teti’s pyramid, I comment that it has 78 meters of side in the base and 52 meters of height.
How to get to Saqqara?
Located about 30 kilometers from the city of Cairo and about 17 kilometers from Giza, the ideal is to visit the area after going to the Pyramids of Giza The most recommendable way to visit the area is by tour or private car because it will be difficult to find taxis there.
Entrance to Saqqara Egypt
When you arrive at Saqqara you will have to pay your entrance ticket in cash and then pass through a narrow corridor to reach the interior of the passage and first stop in the area, a rectangular space full of what were once columns that are still standing today thanks to the restorations of the site. As soon as you enter you will have some locals wanting to give you explanations of the site to take you on a tour of the surroundings. If you are interested, continue the tour and at the end give a tip. Otherwise, tell him politely that you are not interested in his services.
Saqqara Egypt tour
If you go through the site well, you will be able to see the different buildings there are. Most of them are tombs that you can enter to observe the interior full of hieroglyphics, something that is very worthwhile. In this site, you can feel like an explorer because you can enter the burial chambers and other buildings for free. It’s best to stand in front of the step pyramid and look at it from different angles, thinking that it was once the tallest building in the world. [ Book the best Saqqara Egypt tour with Cleopatra Egypt Tours ]
