After 14 years of restoration, the Djoser Pyramid in Egypt is again open to tourists. This pyramid, the first in the world, was built 4700 years ago during the era of Pharaoh Djoser, one of the kings of the Third Dynasty of ancient Egypt.
A view of the burial chamber and the sarcophagus of King Djoser inside the pyramid.
After the pyramid faced decades of neglect and risk of collapse, the Egyptian government began an ambitious project to restore the structure, also known as the Stepped Pyramid, in 2006.This Great Egyptian Museum, recognized as a Heritage of the Humanity for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), cost more than 104 million Egyptian pounds ($6.66 million) and its reopening was attended by Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli, as well as foreign ambassadors.” We are working hard to build a new Egypt and the restoration of our heritage is one of our top priorities,” said Madbouli.La 60-metre-high pyramid was designed by Imhotep, described by some as the first architect of the world, and consists of six steps stacked on a pit tomb 28 meters deep and 7 meters wide.
The outer facades of the pyramid and the stairs of the southern and east entrances were among the restored areas.
During the third and fourth dynasties of the Ancient Kingdom, Egypt enjoyed tremendous economic prosperity and stability. The kings had a unique position in Egyptian society and were believed to have been chosen by the gods themselves to serve as their mediators on earth. This is why there was a special interest in keeping the king’s majesty intact even after his death: the ancient Egyptians believed that when the king died, part of his spirit (known as “ka”) remained with his body. And one way to take care of his spirit was to mummify his corpse and bury with him everything he might need in the afterlife, including gold containers, food, furniture, and other offerings.
