After several years of being closed for restoration, the 4,700-year-old pyramid of Pharaoh Djoser at Saqqara, considered the oldest still visible in Egypt, has been reopened to the public.
Egyptian Minister for Antiquities and Tourism, Khaled el-Enany stated that this is the first building in the world constructed entirely of stone.
The renovation was started in 2006, was interrupted in 2011 “for safety reasons,” being resumed in 2013. The total cost of the restoration work amounted to 6 million EUR, according to the Egyptian government.
Standing nearly 60 m tall and having six levels, this monument was built around 2,700 BC by the famous architect Imhotep, above a 28 m deep cavity that housed a pink granite tomb.
The site, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979, constitutes the first family necropolis in Egypt, a practice introduced by Pharaoh Djoser. In this Saqqara necropolis, Egyptian authorities discovered, in April 2019, a tomb decorated with colored reliefs and well-preserved inscriptions, belonging to a nobleman from the 5th Egyptian dynasty (between 2,500 and 2,300 BC).
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
Who built the Pyramid of Djoser?
It was designed by the architect Imhotep for Pharaoh Djoser around 2,700 BC.
How much did the restoration cost?
The restoration project, which lasted several years, cost approximately 6 million EUR.
What makes this pyramid unique?
It is considered the world’s first building constructed entirely of stone and the oldest visible pyramid in Egypt.