Short essay

Outer walls, Saqqara: Djoser’s mortuary complex

Plan of King Djoser’s complex, Saqqara, by architect Imhotep, ca. 2630 BCE

Saqqara, outer wall

Saqqara, entrance to Djoser’s complex, from inside

Saqqara, columns in the shape of bundles of reeds

Saqqara

Saqqara, 2013

Court for running Heb-sed festival

King Djoser runs in Heb-Sed Festival (Jubilee event)

“Dummy” (i.e. symbolic) buildings along court

Saqqara, columns in the shape of papyrus stalks

Visitors line up to look into Serdab of King Djoser

King Djoser, statue from Serdab at Saqqara, now in Cairo Museum (a cast is in place in the Serdab)

Ka (vital force)

Ren (name) Ba (personality)

Ib (heart) Sheut (shadow)

Akh (effective one)

Saqqara: other pyramids in the distance at Dashur, including the Bent Pyramid

Sneferu’s Bent Pyramid, Dashur (ca. 2600 BCE)

Sneferu’s Bent Pyramid, Dashur

Sneferu’s Red Pyramid, Dashur ca. 2600 BCE

Sneferu’s Red Pyramid, Dashur

Giza plateau: the Great Pyramids

Khufu’s Pyramid, Giza: the largest of the three “Great” pyramids, ca. 2550 BCE

Section showing interior chambers and tunnels, Khufu’s Pyramid

Queens’ pyramids