Djoser Complex

The entrance to the Djoser Complex. The pyramid and the related structures which constitute the Djoser complex are surrounded by an imposing wall in light Tura limestone interrupted by simulacra of fourteen doors which probably follows the form of the wall at Memphis at the time.  The wall is broken by a single entry door with no closing system located on the southeast side.   The earlier building styles connected with organic materials were converted to stone for the construction of this entire complex. The Djoser wall is decorated with molding that uses a geometric motif known as palace facade. Mimicked in this stylized motif are the traditional brickwork walls, wooden panels or occasional doors in the recesses, probably wooden support beams across the top and ...

... reed mats rolled up and tied forming drum shaped horizontal cylinders. These columns are part of the great entry colonnade, which is inside the entry door pictured above.  The colonnade has almost entirely been reconstructed by fitting bits and pieces of the stones found in the sand.  Most of these columns have seventeen stalks. The ones toward the end have nineteen, as do the double freestanding columns on the western end. The columns are spaced closer together toward the west from the eastern entrance. This makes the distance seem greater. There are forty columns in this area. They are thought to represent the provinces or nomes that were in existence during that time. Originally the colonnade had a roof and would have formed a long T-shaped gallery.

The western exit of the hypostyle room leads to the great courtyard.

The Jubilee Court (aka sed festival court) is located to the southeast of the Step Pyramid. On the west side of the court (pictured here) are "dummy" buildings which replicate the shape of the canonical shrines of Upper Egypt. On the east side of the court are buildings which replicate the shrines of Lower Egypt.

The first Step Pyramid, built at Saqqara by the architect Imhotep for the 3rd-Dynasty ruler Djoser. Djoser's pyramid seems to have initially taken the form of a huge mastaba, but it was gradually extended and elaborated until it consisted of six massive steps reaching a height of 60 meters, making it clearly visible from the capital city of Memphis.