The Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara is believed to be the earliest known stone building in history, predating the pyramids at Giza. Saqqara served as the primary burial ground south of Cairo for the ancient capital of Memphis (c. 2667-2648 BC). The complex includes deep burial shafts with sarcophagi. Exact construction dates are available—built during the reign of King Netjerykhet (Djoser), c. 2667-2648 BC. Intricate hieroglyphs and reliefs throughout the complex showcase early monumental stone construction techniques.
Serapeum of Saqqara Step Pyramid oldest stone building, predates Giza
EgyptGeneral
Key facts
- Step Pyramid of Djoser believed to be earliest known stone building in history
- Serapeum of Saqqara is a burial ground south of Cairo
- Pyramid predates those on the Giza plateau
- Shafts descend to significant depths with sarcophagi in hard-to-explain positions
- No exact construction dates available for any structures
- Hieroglyphs surround visitors - origin unclear whether builders or later visitors
Site mentioned
Sources
Step Pyramid complex at Saqqara - Smarthistorysmarthistory.org
While the complex had many innovations, among the most important are that it was the first mortuary structure in stone, the first stepped pyramid instead of a ...
Pyramid of Djoser - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
The six-tier, four-sided structure is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt. It was built in the 27th century BC during the Third Dynasty for the burial ...
The Pyramid of Djoser: The World's Oldest Pyramid Is Often ...discovermagazine.com
The monument Imhotep designed for Djoser is the oldest-known step pyramid, which is constructed of stone and arranged in layers to create ...
Step Pyramid at Saqqara King Djoser 2667-2648bcdiscoveringegypt.com
The earliest graves were pits cut into the bedrock and covered in stones—but soon they developed into more elaborate structures made from mud brick and stone, ...
The Step Pyramid Complex of Djoser - Discover Egypt's Monumentsegymonuments.gov.eg
The sheer age of the Step Pyramid is astounding. It was built in the early Third Dynasty, during the reign of King Netjerykhet (c.2667–2648 BC), who is now more ...
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