Beyond the famous pyramids of Djoser and Unas, the Mastaba of Princess Idut, and the grand Heb-Sed Chapels, the Saqqara Necropolis is home to dozens of lesser-known but equally fascinating ancient monuments. They allow visitors to see the evolution of funerary architecture over millennia and are often nearly deserted.
1. Pyramid of Userkaf: The Forgotten Pioneer of a New Era
What it is: The pyramid of the founder of the 5th Dynasty (c. 2490–2480 BC), located northeast of the Djoser complex. It marks an important shift: pharaohs began building much smaller pyramids but invested more resources in sun temples (Userkaf`s main temple is in Abusir).
Tourist Interest: The pyramid today appears as a pile of ruins (its height is only about 16 m). However, its uniqueness lies in its architectural plan—it was the first pyramid where the robbers` tunnel was dug from the south, not the north, which later became the standard. You can see the ruins of its small mortuary temple nearby. The place is atmospheric and quiet.
2. Tomb of Mehu: Colorful Life in the World of the Dead
What it is: The tomb of a nobleman from the 6th Dynasty (c. 2300 BC), a vizier and chief judge, located near the Pyramid of Djoser. It is one of the most beautiful and well-preserved private tombs in Saqqara, open to visitors.
Tourist Interest: Inside are stunning polychrome reliefs of incredible liveliness and detail. The scenes depict not ritual offerings but everyday life: hunting in papyrus thickets, fishing, agricultural work, dancers, and musicians. Particularly famous is the scene of catching and preparing fish, considered a masterpiece of ancient Egyptian art. It is a window into the real world of the Old Kingdom.
3. "The Great Shaft" (Tomb of Ha-Wi / Khwi)
What it is: This is not just a well but a deep vertical shaft entrance (over 20 m deep) to the burial of a nobleman, possibly a relative of the pharaoh, from the end of the Old Kingdom. Located near the Pyramid of Unas.
Tourist Interest: At the bottom lies an intact burial chamber with a massive limestone sarcophagus and several rooms. This is a rare opportunity to see (by looking down) a burial structure as the ancient builders left it, without subsequent looting or layers of debris.
4. The Double Mastaba (Mastaba of Neferhotep and Ptahhotep)
What it is: A single mastaba for two brothers, high-ranking officials from the 5th Dynasty. It is an example of a "condominium" in the afterlife, where relatives shared one tomb.
Tourist Interest: Inside are two sets of chambers with excellent reliefs, each dedicated to its owner. You can compare style and subjects. The reliefs show traditional offering scenes but also include rare depictions, such as the birth of calves—a scene full of tenderness and naturalism, not often found in royal tombs.
5. Valley Temple of Unas
What it is: The lower (valley) temple from which the procession to Pharaoh Unas`s pyramid began. Located at the very edge of the cultivated fields, near the modern ticket office and necropolis entrance.
Tourist Interest: Massive basalt foundation blocks and column remnants are preserved. This allows you to appreciate the scale of a structure once faced with alabaster and granite. From here began the 750-meter-long covered causeway (stone ramp) leading to the pyramid. It is a key point for understanding the structure of the entire funerary complex.
6. Pyramid of Teti
What it is: The pyramid of the founder of the 6th Dynasty (c. 2320 BC), located northeast of the Pyramid of Djoser. It is badly ruined and resembles a natural hill.
Tourist Interest: The interior chambers, like those of Unas, are covered with "Pyramid Texts." Descent inside is possible via the steep ancient corridor. Nearby are the famous mastabas of his nobles (Merefnebef, Kagemni, Ankhmahor), which represent the pinnacle of Old Kingdom relief art and are often open to visitors. This is a whole "elite district" around the royal pyramid.
7. Serapeum
What it is: Although technically a separate monument, it lies within Saqqara. These are underground galleries where the sacred Apis bulls were buried in massive granite and basalt sarcophagi (weighing up to 80 tons).
Tourist Interest: A grandiose and slightly eerie spectacle. Walking through long, dark tunnels past giant sarcophagi with shifted lids leaves an unforgettable impression. This monument is from a much later era (Late Period), demonstrating the continuity of the site`s sacredness.
These sites are scattered across a vast area. To visit them, it is best to hire a taxi or horse-drawn carriage for the whole day at the entrance, having first discussed the desired route with a guide or driver. Many of these tombs are opened on a rotating basis for preservation, so it`s worth checking availability on site.
