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Sakkara is one of the most extensive archaeological
sites in Egypt, it was the cemetery for Memphis the
capital of ancient Egypt.
Yet again it is one of the very virgin archaeological
sites. despite the fact that we found so many moments in
sakkara .
Sakkara is dominated by the step pyramid of king Zoser that
goes back to 2700 BC. It is one of the oldest stone
structures in the world.
Sakkara is also the site of many tombs from the first
and 2nd dynasty. Mostly made out of mud breaksand other
tombs that are made of limestone decorated with daily
life scenes . When you are in Sakkara, you will notice
that Sakkara is divided into southern Sakkara where it
is dominated by the step pyramid and northern Sakkara
dominated by the pyramid of king titi and mastaba tombs
of the old kingdom.
When conducting a visit to Sakkara don’t miss the
following sites
-The step pyramid of king Zoser and it surrounding complex.
-The pyramid of king Titi.
-The tomb of Meriruka and the tomb of Kagimni.
-The mastba tomb of TI and the tomb of Petah hotep.
It was built for king zoser to be a tomb, today is
considered as one of the oldest stone structure built by
men in the ancient world and the first time the ancient
Egyptians would attempt to use limestone.
King zoser is considered as one of the greatest kings of
the third dynasty (2721-2780 BC). This pyramid was
designed and built by his great architect Imhotep.
The pyramid is built as step pyramid, raising the height of 60 meters
and consisting of 6 steps on top of each other each is
smaller than the one below.
The pyramid is entirely built of limestone. They used
small bricks of limestone, yes it is not he best quality
of stone but it remained for more than 4700 years.
The pyramid is surrounded by a rectangular enclosure
wall that measure 277*544 meters mostly ruined today but
it was originally ten meters high. You will be able to
see parts of it.
-In the southern eastern part of the wall you will find
the entrance to the complex, most of what you are going
to see when you get through this door is recently
restored ! Notice, at the end of the little hall that
the door leads you to , there is a an imitation of two
doors swung open. The entrance leads you to a colonnade
that has 40 columns. Each columns is attached to the
wall behind, the style of such columns are called
engaged columns, they were built to ensure that these
columns would be able to endure the heavy weight of the
ceiling.
You will notice in between the columns there are large
numbers of little rooms created in between, they once
contained statues representing king zoser as ruler of
upper and Lower Egypt. The long hypostyle hall leads to
an open court yard. This vast empty space was to be used
by the king performing the rituals of the jubilee feast
called the Hep-Sed festival. One of the rituals
performed by kings of Ancient Egypt to ensure that they
are able to rule the country for 30 years to come.
To the right wing of the open court yard, Imhotep the
architect of king zoser built a temple known as the
Hep-Sed temple, for the king to be able to practice that
ritual in the after life.
Behind that temple further north you will notice two
building behind each other they are called the northern
and southern house where the king is supposed to host
those dignitaries who have come to attend the king’s
ritual in the temple and his recognition as a king of
upper and lower Egypt.
The pyramid’s four sides almost face the four cardinal points. The
original entrance of the pyramid is located at the
northern side.
One the north western side you will notice al little
room that is built with a gradient angel of the pyramid
itself , there we found a beautiful statue of king zoser
made of limestone, it was moved to the Egyptian museum
in Cairo and it was replace by a replica
The pyramid is closed for visitors since a very long
time it is not safe to get inside this pyramid.
I frequently was admitted inside this pyramid with many
TV crows that I have leaded around Sakkara, we had to
get a very special permission to get inside.
The northern entrance is not used anymore it is very
dangerous; mainly the people use another one that was
made the time of the 26th dynasty at the southern reside
of the pyramid.
When you go underneath this pyramid you will there is
strange feeling that haunts you , when you keep in mind
that you are exploring 4700 years of time . yet down
there is like a maze , there are hundred of little
corridors and virtually it is like maze of little
tunnels. We found in some of these tunnels more that 30,
000. Jars made out of several types of stone, like
alabaster marble, diorite and slate.
To the southern side of the pyramid, you will find burial shaft almost
28 meter deep is believed to be a symbolic tomb for the
kind, as kings of the first three dynasties used to
build tow tomb for themselves one is a real tomb and the
other one is just a cenotaph.
Next to the step pyramid complex on the southern side
you
will see the ruined pyramid of king Unas, dates back to
the end of the 5th dynasty. It is the first pyramid
inside of which we find inscription decorating the walls
of the burial chamber, they are more than 700
incantations which are supposed to help the dead king
throughout the afterlife and they are known as the
pyramid texts.
When you get inside this pyramid the inscriptions on the
walls of the burial chamber are awesome. Unfortunately
the pyramid is closed since more than 6 years ago.
Tomb of Meriruka
It is the largest tomb in Sakkara, it was built for
Meriruka and his family and today considered as the
largest tomb in the southern Sakkara, it consists of 32
rooms.
The tomb was discovered at 1893, it is located 20
meters to the north of the pyramid of king Titi.
The tom goes back to the time of 6 dynasties (2240 BC).
The tomb is divided into sections where he and his wife
and son are buried. The walls of the tomb are decorated
with marvellous daily life scenes illustrating the daily
life in Ancient Egypt. It is full of many details of
Meriruka with his family and servants.

