Saqqara

*Includes pictures

*Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading

Africa may have given rise to the first human beings, and Egypt probably gave rise to the first great civilizations, which continue to fascinate modern societies across the globe nearly 5,000 years later. From the Library and Lighthouse of Alexandria to the Great Pyramid at Giza, the Ancient Egyptians produced several wonders of the world, revolutionized architecture and construction, created some of the world's first systems of mathematics and medicine, and established language and art that spread across the known world. With world-famous leaders like King Tut and Cleopatra, it's no wonder that today's world has so many Egyptologists.

What makes the accomplishments of the Ancient Egyptians all the more remarkable is that Egypt was historically a place of great political turbulence. Its position made it both valuable and vulnerable to tribes across the Mediterranean and the Middle East, and Ancient Egypt had no shortage of its own internecine warfare. Its most famous conquerors would come from Europe, with Alexander the Great laying the groundwork for the Hellenic Ptolemy line and the Romans extinguishing that line after defeating Cleopatra and driving her to suicide.

The pyramids of ancient Egypt have captured the world's imagination for centuries, and while the image that usually comes to mind is of the magnificent pyramids of Giza, there are many other pyramid fields in Egypt, and the one at Saqqara is the oldest and largest. It was the site for pyramids built by at least 11 pharaohs, along with subsidiary pyramids for their queens. In addition to having the most pyramids of any pyramid field in Egypt, Saqqara contains hundreds if not thousands of smaller tombs.

Saqqara is located less than 10 miles south of Cairo on the west bank of the River Nile and runs about 3.75 miles on its north-south axis. The site is generally broken down into the region of North Saqqara and South Saqqara, since there are clusters of monuments on each end, but there are some interesting features in the middle portion as well. While the Step Pyramid of Djoser is by far the most famous monument at the site, Saqqara is a rich network of pyramids, temples, and tombs dating from the first dynasty of Egypt all the way to Greco-Roman times, an impressive span of more than 2,500 years. Indeed, Egyptologists have only uncovered a small fraction of the remains.

Besides the Step Pyramid, several other important discoveries have been made here. Most significant is the earliest example of the Pyramid Texts, found in the pyramid of Unas. Excavations have been continuous for more than 150 years, so dedicated Egyptologists are still uncovering rich tombs, some of them having been undisturbed for more than 2,000 years.

The entire site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is open to visitors. While not as grandiose as the pyramids at Giza or as imposing as the temple at Karnak, a visit to Saqqara is well worth the trip, not only to stand on the site of Egypt's first pyramid, but to explore the numerous well-preserved tombs. It is an easy day trip from Cairo, and a full day should be devoted to it in order to fully appreciate the tombs, temples, and pyramids that are open to the public. There is also a museum on site that explains the history of Saqqara and displays some of the artifacts found there.

Saqqara: The History and Legacy of the Ancient Egyptian Necropolis near Memphis examines the history and excavations at the sacred burial site. Along with pictures depicting important people, places, and events, you will learn about Saqqara like never before.