Everyone knows about the Pyramids of Giza, but the true heart of ancient Egyptian civilization lies south of Cairo, in the Saqqara Necropolis. This giant "city of the dead," stretching for 7 km along the western bank of the Nile, is where pharaohs, queens, nobles, and sacred animals were buried over 4,500 years ago, and where the main architectural ideas of Ancient Egypt were born.
The History of Saqqara: From Sand Dunes to an Eternal City
Saqqara began to take shape as a royal necropolis as early as the Early Dynastic Period (c. 3000 BC), but its golden hour came during the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom (c. 2686–2181 BC). Its location opposite the ancient capital of Memphis was strategic: this was the sacred "western bank," where the sun set, a symbol of the realm of the dead. Pharaohs from the 1st to the 6th Dynasties built their eternal homes here, and later, nobles from the Middle, New, and even Late Kingdom eras followed, making Saqqara a unique "layered cake" of Egyptian history.
The Star of Saqqara: Pharaoh Djoser and the Genius Imhotep
The greatest breakthrough occurred around 2667–2648 BC under Pharaoh Djoser (3rd Dynasty). His vizier and chief architect, Imhotep - later deified as a god of wisdom - performed a revolution. Instead of building a traditional mudbrick mastaba (bench-shaped tomb), he envisioned the unprecedented: to erect an eternal house for the pharaoh from stone, reaching for the heavens.
The result was the Step Pyramid of Djoser - the heart of Saqqara and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its importance cannot be overstated:
• The First Pyramid in the World: It is the oldest monumental stone structure of such colossal scale on Earth.
• The First Architectural Complex in the World: Around the pyramid, Imhotep built an entire "city for the afterlife" with temples, altars, and ceremonial courtyards, surrounded by a giant wall.
• A Prototype for Millennia: It was here that columns in the form of papyrus bundles, concave cornices, and other elements that became the canon of Egyptian architecture first appeared.
Main Attractions of Saqqara
This route covers the key points worth visiting even in half a day.
1. The Djoser Complex: Start here. Be sure to see the Step Pyramid itself, as well as two restored wonders:
• The Colonnade: Walk through this 54-meter-long corridor with 40 columns - the first colonnade in the world, which was the main ceremonial entrance.
• The Heb-Sed Chapels: These unique structures with false doors were the "stage" for the eternal performance of the ritual renewing the pharaoh`s power. After restoration, they look almost as they did 4,700 years ago.
2. Pyramid of Unas (c. 2375–2345 BC): The tomb of the last pharaoh of the 5th Dynasty. It is small but historically priceless: its burial chamber was the first to be inscribed with the "Pyramid Texts" - the oldest religious texts in the world, spells for the pharaoh`s journey to the afterlife.
3. Mastaba of Sesheshet Idut (c. 2323–2291 BC): The tomb of a princess from the 6th Dynasty. Its main treasure is the stunning polychrome reliefs depicting scenes of everyday life (hunting, fishing, offerings) with incredible liveliness and detail.
4. Tomb of Mehu (6th Dynasty): Located near the Pyramid of Unas, this is an incredibly vibrant and well-preserved nobleman`s tomb. Its reliefs are considered among the best in Saqqara and also transport you to the living world of the Old Kingdom.
5. The North Gallery: A mysterious long structure (c. 90 m) north of Djoser`s pyramid. It is a giant ritual platform whose purpose is not fully understood, but its monumentality is striking.
For Those with a Full Day: A Deep Dive
If time allows head to the less crowded but no less interesting sites:
• "The Great Shaft" (Tomb of Khwy): A deep vertical shaft descent (over 20 m) into the nearly intact burial chamber of a nobleman.
• The Double Mastaba of Neferhotep and Ptahhotep: The tomb of two noble brothers with elegant reliefs, including a rare scene of calves being born.
• Pyramid of Teti: Founder of the 6th Dynasty. It is ruined, but inside it also contains "Pyramid Texts." Nearby are the famous mastabas of his nobles (Merefnebef, Kagemni).
• The Serapeum: Underground galleries from the Late Period, where sacred Apis bulls were buried in granite sarcophagi. It creates an oppressive and unforgettable impression.
Saqqara is vast. The best way to explore it is to hire a taxi or horse-drawn carriage for the whole day at the entrance, discussing the route in advance. Start at the Djoser Complex, then head north to the Pyramid of Unas and the mastabas.
Don`t forget water, a hat, and comfortable shoes. Visiting Saqqara is a journey to the origins, where every stone holds the memory of the geniuses who laid the foundations of one of humanity`s greatest civilizations.
