Saqqara is a bit further away from Cairo than Giza, being south of Giza by
about 21 km. The pyramids of Saqqara are far less spectacular than those at
Giza. Upon arriving, the most noticeable object on the landscape is the
Step Pyramid - its name obviously coming from its shape - a stack of ever-smaller
terraces. The Step Pyramid is part of Zoser's funerary complex, one of the
major sites in North Saqqara. However,
there are many mastabas that are very interesting and beautiful, and to me,
more worth time and effort to see.
The Step Pyramid of Saqqara was the first pyramid
made entirely of stone. It was built in approximately 2630 BC.
The man credited with designing the step pyramid was Imhotep, considered to be
an
architect, a physician, and scultor.
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There are many burial tombs, or mastabas, in saqqara. This is a picture of
a wall detail in the tomb of Mereukua.
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