After Ursula and I departed Bucharest, Romania, we headed off to a destination we hadn’t visited since 1984 — Cairo, Egypt. This would be our first stop in Egypt for continuing south to Aswan for a Nile River cruise. And upon our arrival at the Mar Chabel Hotel, while we waited for the front desk staff to find our reservations (and waited… and waited…), Ursula booked us on a tour for the next day. This tour would take us first to Saqqara, an ancient necropolis featuring the oldest known Egyptian pyramid. That would be the Pyramid of Djoser, also known as the Step Pyramid, and it dates back to the 27th century BC.
From a distance the Step Pyramid initially doesn’t look all that impressive. It’s only as you grow nearer that the full 204-foot/62-meter height begins to amaze.
The Step Pyramid contains six levels, although the lowest is not easily discerned. If you don’t look carefully, you’ll count only five. The blocks are limestone, and the pyramid was originally clad in polished limestone. As you get close enough to touch, don’t climb. That’s prohibited:
Just south of the Step Pyramid is an impressive looking structure. This was the entrance to the Saqqara Sed Festival Complex.
Behind the Sed Festival façade is a modern structure protecting columns and walls from the elements:
Along the east base of the Step Pyramid you’ll find an entrance:
On Wednesday we’ll look at some more sights at Saqqara, and head off to visit a papyrus artist and a shop specializing in essential oils. Until then, a closeup view Djoser Pyramid construction:
Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)
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R. Doug Wicker — Author 