Pyramid of Djoser
The pyramid of Djoser (or Djeser and Zoser), sometimes called the Step Pyramid of Djoser, is an archaeological site in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt, northwest of the ruins of Memphis. It is the first pyramid to be built. The 6-tier, 4-sided structure is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt. It was built in the 27th century BC during the Third Dynasty for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser. The pyramid is the central feature of a vast mortuary complex in an enormous courtyard surrounded by ceremonial structures and decoration.
| Pyramid of Djoser | |
|---|---|
Djoser's step pyramid at Saqqara | |
| Djoser | |
| Coordinates | 29°52′16.56″N 31°12′59.02″E |
| Architect | Imhotep |
| Constructed | c. 2670–2650 BC (3rd dynasty) |
| Type | Step pyramid |
| Material | Limestone |
| Height | 62.5 m (205 ft; 119 cu) |
| Base | 121 m (397 ft; 231 cu) by 109 m (358 ft; 208 cu) |
| Volume | 330,400 m3 (11,667,966 cu ft) |
| Part of | Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur |
| Criteria | Cultural: i, iii, vi |
| Reference | 86-002 |
| Inscription | 1979 (3rd Session) |
Location within Lower Egypt | |
The pyramid went through several revisions and redevelopments of the original plan. The pyramid originally stood 62.5 m (205 ft) tall, with a base of 109 m × 121 m (358 ft × 397 ft) and was clad in polished white limestone. The step pyramid (or proto-pyramid) was considered to be the earliest large-scale cut stone construction made by man as of 1997, although the nearby enclosure wall "Gisr el-Mudir" is suggested by some Egyptologists to predate the complex, and the South American pyramids at Caral are contemporary.
In March 2020, the pyramid was reopened for visitors after a 14-year restoration.