Saqqara
is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt,
featuring the world's oldest standing
step pyramid. It is located some 30 km
south of modern-day Cairo and covers an
area of around 7 km by 1.5 km. View of
Saqqara necropolis, including Djoser's
step pyramidWhile Memphis was the capital
of Ancient Egypt, Saqqara served as its
necropolis. Although it was eclipsed as
the burial ground of royalty by Giza and,
later, by the Valley of the Kings in Thebes,
it remained an important complex for minor
burials and cult ceremonies for more than
3,000 years, well into Ptolemaic and Roman
times. Although the earliest burials of
nobles at Saqqara can be traced back to
the First Dynasty, it was not until the
Second Dynasty that the first kings were
buried there, including Hotepsekhemwy
and Nynetjer. The most striking feature
of the necropolis, however, dates from
the Third Dynasty. Still visible today,
is the Step Pyramid of the Pharaoh Djoser.
Saqqara
is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt,
featuring the world's oldest standing
step pyramid. It is located some 30 km
south of modern-day Cairo and covers an
area of around 7 km by 1.5 km. View of
Saqqara necropolis, including Djoser's
step pyramidWhile Memphis was the capital
of Ancient Egypt, Saqqara served as its
necropolis. Although it was eclipsed as
the burial ground of royalty by Giza and,
later, by the Valley of the Kings in Thebes,
it remained an important complex for minor
burials and cult ceremonies for more than
3,000 years, well into Ptolemaic and Roman
times. Although the earliest burials of
nobles at Saqqara can be traced back to
the First Dynasty, it was not until the
Second Dynasty that the first kings were
buried there, including Hotepsekhemwy
and Nynetjer. The most striking feature
of the necropolis, however, dates from
the Third Dynasty. Still visible today,
is the Step Pyramid of the Pharaoh Djoser.
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