Djoser’s Step Pyramid complex is amazing and a must see because of its uniqueness. (The following is more archaeological tid-bits than most of you want to know – but remember they are HUGE as far as Egyptology goes. So, take them to cocktail parties to impress your friends.) Djoser’s complex was the only completed complex to have a Step Pyramid, Heb-Sed Court and Festival Temple, subsidiary mastaba instead of pyramid and serakh facade enclosure wall. The only other time these features occurred was in the pyramid complex of Sekhemkhet, Djoser’s successor. But Sekhemkhet died before his pyramid complex was finished. So Djoser reigns supreme as the ONLY king to incorporate a Heb-Sed court into his funerary site. Djoser’s Pyramid was the first large stone structure in the world and it was the first time in Ancient Egypt that the cult center was located next to the King’s burial site.
The entry colonade is a unique, unusual and slightly bizarre structure. There are 40 columns that are reeded or thought to represent imitations of columns made of bound bunches of reeds. The wall surrounding the entire pyramid complex was based on a funerary fort at Abydos. Inside the Step Pyramid are blue faience tiles representing reed matting. They are gorgeous and are now in the Cairo Museum.
So why am I making such a big deal of the fact that Djoser created a Heb-Sed court in his Afterlife complex? (Besides the fact that he was really the only one to do it. Yes, it’s more significant than just him being a rebel.) The Heb-Sed Court is the court in which the Pharaoh runs the Heb-Sed race during the royal jubilee festival. During this ritual the king’s right to rule and his royal powers were renewed. In this race, held thirty years into the Pharaohs rule, and sometimes sooner (especially with Pharaohs who had short reigns), the Pharaoh raced the Apis bull.
If the Pharaoh won, then he continued to be Pharaoh. If not then well too bad for him, he was no longer virile enough to be king and it was the next guys turn to take a stab at it. So, DID early Kings such as Den, Djer or Djoser ACTUALLY run this race? Well, interestingly in the Heb-Sed court at Saqarra there are two boundary stones that would have been used as race markers. Also, Djoser is depicted running the race on a false door relief. Another odd point, a Pharaoh’s tomb is usually designed to help him bring to the Afterlife the things he loved in this life. So, why would Djoser design his funerary complex as a Heb-Sed Court? He would spend his Afterlife forever running the Heb-Sed race. Sounds like something out of Homer. Or maybe he just wanted to continually be reafirmed as King, forever. Well, whatever floats your boat Djoser.
Not to be discounted at Saqqara are all the other fine burials and smaller 5th and 6th Dynasty Pyramids. First stop is Unas’ and Teti’s Pyramids and Causeways. Unas’ and Teti’s Pyramids were inscribed with Pyramid texts, the spells that the King used to successfully pass to the afterlife. It was really cool to have studied the texts in my Heiroglyphics class and then be able to go to Teti’s Pyramid and read them!! There are no pictures on the walls of either pyramid, just wall to ceilings inscriptions. But, they are quite breathtaking, and definitely worth the visit.


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