Lower Egypt - overlooking the Egyptian capital of Memphis West bank of Nile, 5 km north of Abusir
Nome
White fortress - the 1st
Nome of Lower Egypt
Type of Settlement
Necropolis
Historical Development
- The earliest burials of nobles at Saqqara can be traced back to the Early Dynastic Period - The area became the first Royal necropolis of the Old Kingdom - In the New Kingdom it was eclipsed as the burial ground of royalty by the Valley of the Kings,
- In the Late Kingdom and Ptolemaic Period, it regained importance as a complex for cult Apis Bull burials in the Serapeum - Because the necropolis was lost beneath the sands for the past 2000 years, many mastabas and temple complexes have been superbly preserved, with both their structures and internal decorations intact.
Monuments
The site is dominated by the famous step Pyramid of Zoser - designed by Imhotep, and is the world's oldest standing stone monument
The 6th Dynasty pyramid of Teti 1, now completely ruined.
Adjacent to the pyramid are the mastabas of his officials.
The mastaba of Kagemni, a Vizier
and judge under three Pharaohs of the 5th and 6th Dynasties, has marvelous relieves showing fishermen
Unas complex, the oldest tomb which has Pyramid Texts inscribed.
His pyramid is surprisingly small considering his long reign, rising only 52 meters above ground. Its present condition is also a disappointment, it is more like a heap of rubble, and it is only on the northern side that a few stones still stand
The Pyramid complex of Djedkare from the 5th Dynasty, known as Haram el-Shawaf.
The tomb of Horemheb - Built before he became Pharaoh, in a modest scale, with wall decorations showing his daily life.
The tomb was never used, hence his last resting place became the Valley of the Kings.
The Pyramid of Ibi from the 8th Dynasty - the only pyramid constructed during the first intermediate period. His pyramid was small compared to all other completed ones, just 21 meters high. Today it is in a very ruinous state, consisting of 3 piles of limestone chips lying around the burial chamber.
Video: Saqqara, Egypt -- Ancient Sound-Wave Healing
Indigenous wisdom keeper Abd'el Hakim Awyan speaks about the ancient techniques of healing the human body with sound wave technology and harmonic frequencies....
White fortress - the 1st
Nome of Lower Egypt
