Saqqara

Although everybody knows of the pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx, the oldest pyramids are found at Saqqara, a few miles south.

Saqqara is a burial area and its most famous object is the Step pyramid of Djoser.

Our tour guide Michael explained that in ancient times, the Sun God Ra was worshiped. Since the sun rose in the east it signified the start of life. Noon represented the peak of life and sunset denoted waning powers and death. For this reason, people were buried on the western side of centers of population and for this reason, pyramids are found on the plateau to the west of the Nile River. Since the river floods every year, the pyramids needed to be built on higher ground. This area served the city of Memphis which was the capital of ancient Egypt.

The Pyramid of Djoser which was built over 4600 years ago in the third dynasty. It was built in steps and was part of the learning process that led to the pyramids in Giza further north. It was the first monumental structure built of stone. This is not the only structure in the area and it would be helpful if you read this article.

The ticket.

We headed off to the South Court.

Inside the court is a colonnade of columns.

The columns have been carved to imitate bundled plant stems. 

We did not actually get close to the step pyramid.

Your hero.

These sites have other interesting features, but you don't have time to visit them all.

After walking through the courtyard, we went into the South Tomb where you were not allowed to take photos. You descended a sloped tunnel with a very low roof until you arrived at a burial chamber with hieroglyphics and wall paintings. It was fabulous.

This deep hole was an ingenious solution for lowering heavy objects into the tomb. The hole was filled with sand and the heavy object was placed on the sand which was gradually removed. Eventually the object descended to a point where it could be dragged into a passageway leading to the tomb.

You cannot do enough research before coming to one of these places. I'll read up more about it later when I get home.

It's desert all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

Other tombs.

There were very few tourists at this site compared to Giza.

Eventually we got back on the bus and headed back down into the Nile Valley. The water and silt from the flooding Nile is what makes living in the area possible.

Notice the columns above the roof in the background. Since people don't have enough money to complete their houses, they are allowed to keep extending upwards when they get enough money to do so.

We headed back to Giza and the Great Pyramid.