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saqqara egypt
saqqara pyramids egypt
Egypt’s Step Pyramid of Saqqara - the Tomb of Vizier Fefi

saqqara pyramids egypt

Saqqara

By Damon de Laszlo

Page 1 of 2


Under the guidance of Dr. Nabil Swelim, Robert A. Hefner III, Damon de Laszlo and the late John Robinson, with other members of the Bradshaw Foundation, visited Cairo, Egypt to view the recently discovered Tomb of Vizier Fefi, excavated at the Step pyramid of Saqqara by the archaeological team of Professor Karol Mysliwiec from the Polish Academy of Sciences for Mediterranean Archaeology.
 
The step
pyramid of Saqqara, built in 2,800 BC by Vizier Imhotep, is the first monumental structure to be constructed entirely of carved stone.

egypt Damon de Laszlo

Bradsahw Foundation Chairman Damon de Laszlo examines pottery from Saqqara


It comprises the vast funeral complex of Djoser, the second king of the 3rd Dynasty, that served ancient Memphis. Vizier Imhotep himself has been called Doctor, Sage, Architect, Astronomer and High Priest.


egypt pyramids saqqara

Step pyramid of Saqqara

egypt pyramids saqqara

Step pyramid of Saqqara


egypt pyramid saqqara

Corbel
Causeway

egypt pyramid saqqara

Corbel
Causeway

On the Pyramid, most of the outer casing is now gone. In some places the core masonry has disappeared as well. It is obvious there were different stages of construction.

The eastern side gives the best picture, but it can be seen from the northern and southern side as well. The original structure was an underground burial chamber.

Located at the pyramid complex
of King Unas of 5th Dynasty


egyptian pyramids saqqara

Step pyramid of Saqqara

egyptian pyramid saqqara

Step pyramid of Saqqara


This chamber, or mastaba, was rare in that it was square, rather than the conventional rectangular. The royal tomb is 28m underground with a vertical shaft leading to it. The entrance was sealed with a 3 ton piece of granite. The face of the mastaba was a fine tura limestone. Apparently it was intended for this to be the finishing touche to the building.

egypt saqqara

Boat pits along the causeway of the pyramid of Unas


It was then enlarged all around with ten feet of additional limestone and then again with an extension on the eastern side. The extension was twenty-five feet of limestone to make the mastaba rectangular. Again, it was enlarged and a two-tiered structure was made. A series of corridors and a tomb chamber was dug. Some of the chambers are lined with blue tiles.

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saqqara pyramids egypt




saqqara pyramids egypt





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