Neglect and Ongoing Damage to Djoser Pyramid Raises Concerns for Preservation in Saqqara

 Recently, three large stones fell from the northeastern corner of the neglected Djoser pyramid, which is not the first time such an incident has happened. Despite workers reporting the event, officials quickly concealed it and continued work as usual. The attitude towards the frequent collapses of the pyramid suggests that this will not be the last such incident. Officials downplayed the situation and stated that work on the pyramid will continue despite the ongoing issue of falling stones, which is similar to the situation with the pyramid of Khufu.

 

The greatest Step Pyramid of Saqqara was constructed over 20 years, from 2737 BC to 2717 BC, as a tomb for King Djoser. Located in southern Giza, Egypt, the pyramid was searched in 1924, during which a deformed statue of Djoser was discovered. The statue had been damaged by criminals attempting to steal it, but it remained intact. Today, the statue is on display at the Egyptian Museum as part of it.

 

Saqqara is a vast cemetery in Egypt, located 15 kilometers south of Cairo, spanning 7 kilometers from north to south and 500 to 1500 meters from east to west. The region is renowned for the ancient city of Memphis located there. The Step Pyramid of Saqqara Necropolis was designed by the famed Egyptian engineer Imhotep, who is considered the "father of stone construction" by historian Manetho. The pyramid was built using local poor-quality stone and stands 159 meters tall with six terraces, the smallest at the top. The pyramid contains rooms and chambers that may have been used as burial sites for King Djoser's family.

 

The Step Pyramid of Saqqara is one of the most important ancient Egyptian monuments and is a popular tourist destination. It's a unique structure as it's the first pyramid ever built and represents a significant step in the development of pyramid construction with Egypt Tours techniques. Visitors can explore the pyramid's six terraces and the chambers within, which may have been used as burial sites for King Djoser's family.

If you're starting your Egypt Travel Packages in Luxor or Hurghada, you can book Cairo Day Tours to visit the Step Pyramid, When the three stones fell from the pyramid of Djoser, workers from the restoration company covered them with a white cloth, reminiscent of a burial shroud, before returning them to their original places. Archaeologists working in the Saqqara region noticed the lack of care shown by the restoration company officials towards the pyramid of Saqqara. This was especially evident in the haphazard way that the workers returned the stones to their places within the pyramid. Furthermore, there seemed to be no archaeological supervisor or inspector present to monitor the restoration work, as is legally required.