The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara in Egypt - The Primary Pyramid Structure

The Great Step Pyramid of Djoser, which dominates his complex at Saqqara near Cairo in Egypt, has been thoroughly studied in recent decades. Unfortunately, its examination has created just about as many questions as answers. These investigations have shown that its construction plan was changed several times, and that the pyramid's current form is the result of a long process of development that included both experimentation and improvised elements. This pyramid is considered to be the evolutionary basis of all later pyramids in Egypt. Initially, the structure took the form of a mastaba (stage M1), which was gradually enlarged, first equally on all four sides (stage M2), and then only on the east side (stage M3). During this latter stage, the mastaba already had a step shape. However, the step-shaped mastaba was finally rebuilt in two stages, first as a four-step pyramid (stage P1) and finally as a six-step pyramid (stage P2).

Imhotep - arhitectul faraonului Djoser

Arhitectura străveche, cea Neolitică, până la perioada Antichității, probabil cel mai mare semn de întrebare ridicat umanității. Un moment al istoriei mondiale ce încă a păstrat multe și nenumărate mistere, de la creație, modul de execuție și rolul programului arhitectural în sine, dar și a realizatorilor acestor monumente și construcții megalitice.

De asemenea primul arhitect cunoscut al umanității este un mister, mai ales datorită zonei sale de naștere, Egipt. Numele lui este Imhotep, dar adesea este cunoscut și sub numele de: Im-hotep, Ii-em-Hotep.

Inscripția de la Behistun

Textul este o declarație a lui Darius al Persiei, scris de trei ori, în trei sisteme de scriere și limbi diferite: două limbi alăturate, vechea persană și elamita, iar akkadiana, dedesubt. Darius a domnit în Persia între anii 521 î.Hr. și 486 î.Hr.

Prin 515 î.Hr., Darius I își relatează într-o lungă povestire ascensiunea la tron în fața uzurpatorului Smerdis al Persiei, cât și războaiele victorioase care au urmat, precum și represiunile revoltelor. Textele au fost gravate pe o faleză în apropiere de orașul modern Bisutun, în munții Zagros din Iran, la intrarea în câmpia Kermanshah.

Three monuments set to re-open in Egypt's Saqqara Necropolis

Following more than six years of restoration work, the tombs of two noblemen – along with Saqqara's famous Apis cemetery – will soon be open to the general public

Final restoration work is now in full swing at Egypt's famous Saqqara Necropolis, home of King Djoser's iconic Step Pyramid and a collection of Old Kingdom mastabas and tombs.

Soon, tombs of Sixth Dynasty Chief of Justice Mereuka and Fifth Dynasty Vizier Ptahhotep, along with the Apis tombs of the Serapeum, will be open to the public.

Step Pyramid of Djoser: Egypt's First Pyramid

Constructed at Saqqara about 4,700 years ago, the Step Pyramid of Djoser was the first pyramid the Egyptians built.

Djoser, sometimes spelled Zoser (though he was actually called Netjerykhet), was a king of Egypt’s third dynasty. The planning of the pyramid has been attributed to Imhotep, a vizier who would later be deified for his accomplishments.

Saqqara the Pottery 2005

The pottery studied in the season of 2005 came from squares 1903-1904-1905, where burials of the Upper Necropolis were discovered in the upper layers, superimposed on the late Old Kingdom necropolis and the sloping passage, i.e., Corridor 3 (squares 2002-2102) combined with the area of the mud-brick platform (squares 2001-2101), both investigated in 2004.

The surface layer in squares 1903-1904-1905 consisted of sand mixed with limestone chips in considerable quantities. The layer was evidently disturbed, as indicated by the chronological spread of the sherds found in it, from severely damaged Late Old Kingdom beer jars to vessels from the Late Period.