Egypt: Sakkara (Day2)

Once we left Memphis, we drove for a few minutes until we were pulling up in a resort for a wonderful buffet lunch. The other Tour Bus was already here so we were a big group for lunch. It was also a chance to freshen up and use the facilities. The lunch was superb and this is where we learned that Stella was a local beer.

After a sumptuous lunch, we drove to Sakkara (also Saqqara and Saccara) for the next tour. Sakkara is an ancient burial ground or necropolis for ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. We entered a few tombs, some have only one room and other have multiple chambers. The interior walls were covered with petroglyphs - some of them are even colored. The art on the wall (petroglyphs)show the dead's lifestyle and possessions. It was an incredible experience, to say the least, for a regular fan like me what more for an Egyptologist.


We ate near the pool.


Us walking to lunch.


Stella.
























There is still digging going on.


The funerary complex of Djoser.


Inside the complex is a room full of columns.


Just past the columns.


The step pyramid of Djoser is one of the most important archeological site in all of Egypt. This is the oldest pyramid ever built (perhaps until they dig something older, you know) in Egypt. This is like the prototype to building a pyramid and from this design many years later they were able to build the Great Pyramids at Giza.


We have different ways of listening to the tour guide.


Another structure they unearthed, not open for tourists yet.






From Sakkara, you can see the pyramids at Giza. You can see the development of pyramid construction. From the step pyramid of Djoser, to the smaller one on the left, to the pyramid behind it and finally to the pyramid design that we all know of with the Great Pyramid on the right.

Really fascinating to learn the trial and error part in the design of the pyramid. I really did not consider the fact that the ancient Egyptians did not automatically come up with the pyramid shape the way we know it now, but it took centuries to get to the final design.

This was a truly phenomenal day full of historical tidbits and relics and ancient places and pyramids. What more, the weather on this late November day was pleasant with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine. By the time we were ending our tour of Sakkara, the wind had picked up cooling the temps rapidly.

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