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The nobles from Memphis and many pharaohs were buried there. Several pyramids are located there, the most famous and most visible is the Djoser Step Pyramid. This pyramid was built before the Great Pyramids at Giza. Its architect was Imhotep who was made a god for his services. The Djoser complex includes a miniature city constructed so that the Pharaoh could work in the afterlife, just as he did in this life.

The Djoser Pyramid complex had a heavy influence on the art deco movement in architecture and object d'art, as did all things Egyptian.

Other places of interest at Saqqara are the Tombs of the Apis Bulls and many tombs and pyramids in various states of repair. We climbed down a small pyramid to the burial chamber. We also climbed down a spiral stair to reach a burial chamber. If you are claustrophobic, there are many other sites of interest above ground.

	As part of the Unis Pyramid Complex there is a reconstruction of a portion of the covered causeway that led from the Nile up to the pyramid of Unis. This model shows the typical components of a pyramid complex.
This causeway was used to pull the funerary boat that held the Pharaoh's body up to the pyramid for entombment. The funerary boat is assumed to have been similar to the Solar Boat at the Cheops pyramid site, shown on the left.

Some of the most beautiful relief carvings are to be found in the tombs around the pyramid of Teti, unfortunately photos weren't allowed and the video camera was resting back in the hotel room.

Saqqara was a fascinating site, we actually went back a second day, and could have spent a third and a fourth day if time had allowed.

Saqqara Tour

The diagram below will take you on a "tour" of the Djoser and Unis Pyramid Complexes. The views are numbered, and the thumbnail pictures have matching numbers. Just Click on the dot beside the number on the diagram or on the thumbnail picture to see a full screen version of the view.

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