Egypt Opens Ancient Tomb Of King Djoser After Restoration

Egypt on Tuesday showcased an ancient tomb structure belonging to the cemetery complex of King Djoser, a pharaoh who lived more than 4,500 years ago, following extensive restorations of the site.

A path leads to the entrance of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration, near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

The structure—known as the Southern Tomb—is largely underground and includes a labyrinth of corridors, decorated with hieroglyphic carvings and tiles. A central funeral shaft houses a massive granite-clad sarcophagus from Egypt's Third Dynasty.

However, the pharaoh was not actually buried there but in the famed Step Pyramid nearby. The two structures make up part of the Saqqara complex near Cairo—one of the country's richest archaeological sites. The Step Pyramid is the oldest known pyramid and one of the first examples of monumental architecture from the ancient world, according to UNESCO. It is believed to have been the inspiration for the Pyramids at Giza.

False door engraved with hieroglyphics and images of Pharaoh Djoser
[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

Inscriptions adorn a wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration,

near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt
[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

Inscriptions and details adorn the wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its

restoration, near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

 

Inscriptions adorn a wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration,

near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

Inscriptions adorn a wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration,

near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

Inscriptions adorn a wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration,

near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities and Tourism said the opening this week of the tomb structure marked the completion of restoration work that started in 2006 and included reinforcing of the underground corridors, refurbishing the carvings and the tiled walls, and installing lighting. As of Tuesday, the tomb opened to the public.

In addition to the Southern Tomb, the Saqqara plateau hosts at least 11 pyramids, including the Step Pyramid, as well as hundreds of tombs of ancient officials and other sites that range from the 1st Dynasty (2920 B.C.-2770 B.C.) to the Coptic period (395-642).

An archaeologist takes photos of inscriptions on the wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration, near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

An archaeologist takes photos of inscriptions on the wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration, near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

An archaeologist takes photos of inscriptions on the wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration, near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

An archaeologist takes photos of inscriptions on the wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration, near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

An archaeologist takes photos of inscriptions on the wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration, near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

An archaeologist takes photos of inscriptions on the wall of the southern cemetery of King Djoser, after its restoration, near the famed Step Pyramid, in Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt

[Credit: Nariman El-Mofty, AP]

The Saqqara site is part of the necropolis of Egypt's ancient capital of Memphis that includes the famed Giza Pyramids, as well as smaller pyramids at Abu Sir, Dahshur, and Abu Ruwaysh. The ruins of Memphis have designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in the 1970s.

افتتاح مشروع ترميم المقبرة الجنوبية للملك زوسر بسقارة، وذلك بعد الانتهاء من أعمال الترميم التى بدأت عام ٢٠٠٦. Inauguration of the southern tomb of King Djoser in Saqqara, after completing the restoration work that started in 2006.

Posted by ‎Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities وزارة السياحة والآثار‎ on Monday, 13 September 2021

Egypt has publicized a string of recent archaeological finds over the past year in an effort to revive its key tourism sector, which was badly hit by the turmoil that followed the 2011 uprising. The sector was also dealt a further blow by the global coronavirus pandemic.

Source: The Associated Press