Egypt’s Step Pyramid of Saqqara - the Tomb of Vizier Fefi
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.
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.
Step pyramid of Saqqara
Step pyramid of Saqqara
Corbel
Causeway
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
Step pyramid of 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.
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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