The Step Pyramid

In the 3rd Dynasty, the structural foundations for the construction of the pyramids were laid, while the rulers themselves remain largely diffuse and uncertain in their succession and governmental activity. A decisive step was taken in the development of architecture and human history as a whole: the pyramid complex of Djoser introduced monumental architecture and, for the first time in history, was built extensively in stone. Djoser is therefore regarded as the creator of a new era [1].

The name Djoser, by which the king is generally known today, has only been documented since the Middle Kingdom, however, as the name is documented as "Hor-Netjer-chet-Djoser" on a statue from the 12th dynasty [2]. The equation of Djoser with his Horus name "Netjeri-chet" is accepted without doubt today. His Horus name is well documented in the Old Kingdom. As the builder of the first pyramid, he is one of the most famous kings of Ancient Egypt.

Both Djoser and his universal scholar and master builder Imhotep were deified in later times. Under his reign, pharaonic Egypt was shaped politically and culturally in every respect and took on the appearance typical of this advanced civilisation.

Although he was not a king, Imhotep, the master builder of Djoser and his successor, King Sekhemkhet, is more important than the kings he served. However, only titles of rank and provision are known of him. He can be seen as the first tangible "universal scholar" in human history. From the New Kingdom onwards, Imhotep was worshipped as a god and, as legends grew, numerous other achievements were attributed to him: he was regarded as the inventor of writing (which was in use long before him) and as the founder of Egyptian medicine (although he did not have the title of doctor). Archaeologically, he was initially regarded as a figure of legend until his real existence was proven in 1920 with the discovery of the statue base by the British Egyptologist Cecil M. Firth (1878-1931). We lack precise biographical information about Imhotep's life. The titles he bore suggest that he may have been a younger brother of Djoser. He is known to have survived the king, as he planned another pyramid as the successor's master builder. The name Imhotep means "he who comes in peace". [3].

The tomb of Imhotep is mentioned in later texts and was the centre of his cult alongside a sanctuary of Imhotep [4].

It is thought to be located near the Pyramid of Djoser. It has not yet been found.

The pyramid of Djoser marked the end of the era of royal mastaba tombs as the most important form of royal burial and this new form of burial became the hallmark of the pharaohs. The construction of a cenotaph in the ancient burial site of Abydos was also abandoned. In place of the cenotaph in Abydos, Djoser had a southern tomb built within his pyramid precinct.

The introduction of stone construction by the master builder and polymath Imhotep made the construction of the pyramids possible in the first place. With the exception of the inner chamber panelling, the pyramid of Djoser was built from locally quarried limestone [5,6].

As the layer thickness of the local limestone is only 20-60 cm, the small dimensions of the stones are attributed to this circumstance [5]. Other researchers, however, see the small brick formats as a further development of the brick building blocks in the new building material stone [7,8].

Since other building elements in the pyramid complex of Djoser also imitate building elements made of plant material and wood in stone and faience, it is quite conceivable that the stones were intended to imitate a mud-brick mastaba in stone: The stone pillars imitate plant supports made of papyrus, the stone door at the entrance is worked as its imitation, open wooden door, standing open for all time. The coloured tiles in the south tomb imitate mat walls.

The pyramid of Djoser was built in several stages. First, a square mastaba (M1) was erected with a base length of 120 cubits. This was built in two stages, M2 and M3, giving it a rectangular ground plan. The stones are laid like bricks using the bond and stretcher technique. The stone layers are also slightly inclined inwards.

The Pyramid of Djoser seen from the south-west. © 7

The Heb-Sed cult courtyard in the Djoser pyramid district © 8

Detailed observation of the Djoser pyramid. The inwardly inclined, small building blocks of the early pyramids tend to disintegrate first at the corners and the cornerstones fall out first. © 9

The royal mastaba was extended in two further construction phases: first into a stepped pyramid with four steps (P1) and then into a pyramid with six steps (P2). Numerous arguments were put forward in favour of the extension (such as the visual connection to the fertile land with construction stage P2). Each stage was also a safeguard in case the king died unexpectedly. A fully functional tomb would have been available in each construction phase or could have been completed quickly. The two superimposed pyramid construction phases P1 and P2 were built with larger stones. No traces of a construction ramp have yet been found on the pyramid [5]. The pyramid complex of Djoser is the largest of all preserved and known pyramid complexes. Some elements of the complex are designed as functional architecture, while other parts were constructed as "fictional architecture".

In the centre of the rectangular pyramid complex is the step pyramid (no. 1 on the plan). The complex was entered through an entrance gate and a colonnade (no. 10) of 20 columns leads to the south courtyard (no. 5). The entrance area was reconstructed by J-P-Lauer in the years 1946-1957 [8].

Examination of the building finds revealed that this area was built in several stages. The portico columns leading to the south courtyard still show traces of red paint.

Ground plan of the Djoser pyramid complex © 10

1: Step pyramid

2: South Tomb

3: Heb-Sed ceremonial courtyard

4: Temple T

5: south courtyard

6: south pavilion

7: north pavilion

8: mortuary temple

9: west galleries

10: Entrance colonnade

11: north courtyard

12: north galleries

13: Staircase tombs

14: Serdab

15: north altar

The southern tomb

In the far south, at the end of the south courtyard, lies the so-called South Tomb (No. 2). It is considered the most enigmatic element of the Djoser district. Structurally, it is a long, mastaba-like building. The façade facing the courtyard is decorated with niches and a cobra frieze. The substructure of the south tomb contains a slightly smaller and simplified version of the pyramid's tomb complex: a corridor leads into a burial chamber and another corridor into a gallery which, like the main tomb of the pyramid, is decorated with blue-green faience tiles. There are also three false doors depicting the king at the Heb-Sed festival.

The south courtyard

The south courtyard (No. 5) is a largely undeveloped area. In the north, directly by the pyramid, there is an altar and the remains of a small temple can be found in the north-east corner. Southeast of the south courtyard is the Heb-Sed courtyard with thirteen chapels in fictitious architecture (they are solidly built except for an entrance with a minimal corridor that leads nowhere). The chapels are built in two shrine forms:

• Seh-netjer chapels (God's hall or God's shadow)
• Per-wer chapels with a rounded roof, which are attributed to Upper Egypt (the Per-nu chapels would be the Lower Egyptian counterpart)

On the east side of the courtyard there are 12 other chapels, although they are smaller. The massive construction proves that the courtyard was not used to celebrate a real Heb-Sed festival of the king, but was intended for the afterlife. Djoser was supposed to be able to celebrate his Heb-Sed festivals for all eternity.

Temple T (baptised as such by Lauer, no. 4) was evidently connected with the Sed festival and is a structure transferred from the clay-brick construction method to stone.

The mortuary temple

The mortuary temple (no.8) on the north side of the pyramid was the central element of the worship cult. The entrance was to the south-west and was entered through a door that imitated a wooden door in stone. The serdab (no. 14) was located directly next to the mortuary temple. It is a small chamber which, like the building blocks of the pyramid, is inclined at an angle of 17°. Inside was a life-size statue of Djoser sitting on a throne. There are two holes on the north side of the chamber through which the statue looks at the circumpolar stars to the north [9]. In the case of Djoser, it is an inclined box, the inclination of which is intentional and allows the king to look through the two holes at the northern sky. Serdab rooms of private individuals are usually orientated to the north, but not inclined.

Today there is a copy of the statue in the chamber, the original statue is in the museum in Cairo. Further statue fragments were found in the area of the mortuary temple, so that the existence of another Serdab is suspected.

The north and south pavilions

The north and south pavilions (nos. 7 and 6) were possibly administrative areas of the pyramid complex. Recent excavations indicate that the complexes were deliberately buried after completion. This is also "fictitious architecture", which was intended to be available to...