Saqqara is some 40 km south of Cairo. Known as the City of the Dead, it is one of the richest archaeological sites in Egypt. It was developed as the royal necropolis for the Old Kingdom capital of Memphis, just to the west.
The centerpiece of the Saqqara necropolis is the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the prototype for all other pyramids.
This remarkable structure was built for 3rd-dynasty King Djoser by his architect, the high priest Imhotep, in the 27th century BC. The pyramid marks an unprecedented leap forward in the history of world architecture.
The vast enclosure surrounding the step pyramid marked yet another major achievement. Bounded by a finely cut limestone wall originally 10.5 meters high, this complex included vast open courts, pavilions, shrines and chapels.
The ancient city of Memphis, 20 km south of Cairo, was the capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom and most of the Pharaonic period. Sadly, there is little remaining evidence of its former glory. The city has almost completely vanished.
What little has been discovered at Memphis is gathered together in a small open-air museum in the village of Mit Rahina. The showpiece is a colossal limestone statue of Ramses II, which lies, truncated at the knees, in a viewing pavilion.
In the garden, there are more statues of Ramses II and an 18th Dynasty sphinx, at 80 tons the largest calcite statue ever found.
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