The buildings erected before our era cannot but attract the interest of modern mankind. The oldest of the mysterious structures is a step pyramid, the project of which was invented by the architect Imhotep. This miracle was created in the 27th century BC and made a significant contribution to the study of one of the most ancient civilizations. What is known about the mysterious building that became the tomb of the pharaoh Djoser? What myths and facts are associated with it?
Step pyramid - what is it?
Historians have been able to establish that initially the architect Imhotep intended to erect a traditional rectangular tomb. However, as he worked, this person made changes to his project, the end result of which was a step pyramid consisting of 6 levels. The name of the building comes from the form that it acquired.
Why did Imhotep stop at one time in a step form? Researchers believe that his choice is due to a secret meaning, which is typical for many examples of ancient architecture. The steps symbolized the ascent to heaven, which after death was to be performed by the powerful lord of Egypt.
The step pyramid is a structure that you can admire not only in the lands of Africa. The buildings belonging to this type, located in Central America, are perfectly preserved. Nevertheless, the tomb of the pharaoh Djoser became the first and therefore remains unique.
Location
The ancient attraction annually attracts thousands of tourists who are interested in how to get to it. The step pyramid erected by Imhotep is located in the “heart” of the Saqqara burial complex. In addition to the famous buildings in the necropolis, you can find many small temples and tombs. About 30 km from Saqqara is the Egyptian city of El Giza.
The stepped pyramid of the pharaoh Djoser is comfortably located on the edge of the plateau. The place for the magnificent design was not chosen by its creator by chance. Researchers are convinced that Imhotep was fascinated by the wonderful view of Memphis. Interestingly, before the erection of this structure, the Egyptian tombs of the kings were located only in a settlement called Abydos.
It is most convenient to get to Saqqara by signing up for an excursion, if tourists are not confused by the limited time.
What is known about the creators of the pyramids?
The step pyramid of the pharaoh Djoser immortalized the Egyptian emperor, who did not differ much during the years of his reign. The creator of a unique building, Imhotep, has gone down in history forever. This man was a universal scientist, he served as minister of the ruler of Egypt.
Imhotep managed to become the first architect, whose name was carved on the statues of the emperor, he is also mentioned in the burial complex. History has not been able to accurately establish the years of life of this person, as well as the place of his burial. Leaving this world, the architect was deified, contemporaries declared him the god of medicine. There are ancient religious buildings named after Imhotep, in the old days they attracted patients who prayed for healing. A statuette depicting an architect is currently present among the exhibits of the Louvre.
Stone use
The step pyramid of Djoser in Saqqara became the first building of this type in Egypt, the construction of which used stone. Before the birth of Imhotep, all the tombs were built using raw brick. Most of them disappeared before our era, as the material was not suitable for these purposes.
However, you should not blindly trust guides who insist that this is the first large stone structure on the planet. Previously, the French Barnenes was erected, according to researchers, its age is more than 6 thousand years.
Construction stages
Surprisingly, the step pyramid in Saqqara was built in 4 stages, which also became a kind of record in the world of Ancient Egypt. Despite the state in which the structure is nowadays, it is easy to trace every stage of its construction even now. This is possible due to various masonry, configuration of cameras and tunnels.
The history of the mysterious building began with the creation of a rectangular tomb. As mentioned above, the material for her was stone. However, the result did not suit the Egyptian pharaoh. As the researchers suggest, the problem was the modest size of the structure. The second stage is the increase in the rectangular structure in length and width.
The step pyramid is what the building in the third stage was like. She acquired three additional add-ons, eventually getting four tiers. The pharaoh was again unhappy, so the tomb was again expanded, adding two upper tiers. Using raw brick, the Egyptians could not have achieved this. Not surprisingly, the use of stone after the construction of the pyramid in Saqqara became fashionable.
Technical details
The height of the six-step pyramid is about 60 meters. For comparison, the same indicator for a building with 16 floors is not more than 43 meters. The base of the structure, erected by the will of Djoser, once totaled 125 by 115 meters. The destructive effect of nature, which the structure has been exposed to over the centuries, has reduced its size.
Appointment
Traditionally, the tombs contained exclusively the remains of Egyptian kings. The step pyramid of Djoser, whose photo you can admire in this article, was revolutionary in this regard. The construction was the last refuge not only for the lord himself, but also for his children and wives.
Historians failed to establish the exact number of dynasty representatives whose bones were left inside the pyramid after death. It is only known that there were more than a dozen of them. Mines located on the eastern side became a curious discovery. Their depth is 32 meters, while the depth of the main mine, which took the body of the emperor, does not exceed 28 meters.
Some researchers are convinced that the mysterious mines were prepared for Joser's harem. If this theory is confirmed, it turns out that the number of “inhabitants” of the tomb went beyond a hundred. There are also people claiming that the mines were a place for treasures. Unfortunately, it is difficult to find out, since raids on the tomb's valuables were committed in ancient times.
Underground tunnels
The Djoser Pyramid, created under the direction of Imhotep, is not a comfortable place for walking. Once in tunnels, the total length of which exceeds 5.5 km, you can not find a way out. For comparison: the tunnels of the tomb of Cheops occupy no more than a few hundred meters.
What's inside?
Often, travelers who manage to see the majestic pyramids from the inside feel cheated. They do not reveal either colorful frescoes or mysterious inscriptions. The step pyramid of Djoser, inside of which it is now extremely difficult to find himself, will certainly not make its visitors survive such disappointment.
Tourists will be fascinated by finding themselves in a burial chamber, the walls of which are decorated with multi-colored tiles (green, turquoise). Products used during the time of Ancient Egypt are visually similar to the ceramic tiles of our days. Of course, modern materials would hardly have survived 4, 600 years, while the tiles created by ancient people were well preserved.
The bas-reliefs adorning the walls are also fascinating, on which images of Egyptian gods are represented. They have survived to this day in better condition than tiles, because they are located on the surface of granite blocks. Excavations helped to find the remains of the sarcophagus belonging to the powerful pharaoh. In addition, inside you can admire the images of a five-pointed star. The Egyptians in those days associated this symbol with the abode of the dead.
You can also admire the three bas-relief drawings with portraits of Djoser. The ruler of Egypt was depicted during his participation in religious rites, the head of the pharaoh is crowned with a traditional crown.
