Saqqara is at the same time a small village 23 km south of Cairo, and the ruins of an ancient necropolis on a plateau in the Nile Valley, where graves, tombs and pyramids of the Late and New Kingdom are located.

Spreading 7 km in the Western desert, Sakkara is a huge cemetery of ancient Memphis, the burial place of the Egyptian aristocracy, whose remains have already celebrated their 3500th anniversary - is considered the largest archaeological site of the country. During the Late Kingdom, there were built 11 main pyramids and hundreds of small tombs, so it is not surprising that the name "Saqqara" comes from Sokar, the god of death, who was especially revered in ancient Memphis.

Much of Sakkara, not counting the Step Pyramid , the balls are hidden under the sands until the middle of the 19th century, until the famous French Egyptologist Agust Mariett opened the Serapeum. Since then, gradually, step by step, they began to unearth new parts of this complex, one of the last to find the Step Pyramid in 1924.

Today, despite the fact that Sakkara is considered one of the most popular sights in the vicinity of Cairo, individual tourists you will not see much. And "group" travelers on sightseeing buses with guides come quickly and as quickly as possible leave, usually in the morning, without interfering with enjoying the ideal silence of the ancient complex on the very border with the desert.

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How to get

Sakkara is in 25 km from Cairo, the easiest way to get here by taxi is by combining the train with a visit to ancient Memphis and Dahshur (from 50 pounds). Alternatives are horses or camels, which can be hired from the pyramids of Giza and make a colorful (but, I must say, nudnovatoe) three or four hour journey to Sakkara.

You can take the train to El-Bedrashein, the journey takes 1, 5-2 hours. From there you will have to walk 3 km, a taxi here is very rare.

You can get there by bus from Giza metro station by going to Marishay stop or Saqqara road stop. And then change to the minibus to Saqqara site (Haram Saqqara; do not say Saqqara village, otherwise you will have to walk in the sun 1, 5 km before the ticket office). However, this method is not nearly as good as a taxi, although it will cost hardly more than 5 pounds (as of April 2011).

Climate

Transportation

North Sakkara is easy to move on foot, while The sands of South Sakkara are not considered the best place for walking. You can also rent a camel, horse or donkey from Serapeum for 25-50 pounds.

Entertainments, excursions and attractions

The width of the former necropolis of Memphis Sakkara varies from 1, 5 km to 500 m, length - more than 7 km. In total, 11 royal pyramids (such as the pharaohs of Teti, Pepi I and Pepi II), the legendary step pyramid of Djoser, as well as all kinds of mastabas and "economic" buildings were excavated here. An Imhotep Museum was opened in the territory of the necropolis in 2006.

Djoser Pyramid

The most popular, of course, the Step Pyramid of Djoser (2668-2649 BC) - it is the earliest of all the pyramids. Entry to it is possible only by special permission with a tour that lasts for several hours, and requires special vigilance from tourists, since there is no lighting in the pyramid. It should also be delayed by two mastabs of the Sixth Dynasty, the graves of Meriruk and Kagemni, the pharaohs of Teti's viziers (2345-2333 BC)

Monastery of St. Jeremiah

The Monastery of St. Jeremiah, founded in the 6th c. BC. e., is located near the parking lot, on the opposite side of the path leading to the pyramid of Unas. Findings made on the territory of the monastery can now be seen in rooms 6-7 of the Coptic Museum

Serapium

No tourist passes by Serapeum - catacombs of the sacred bull Apis. Particularly curious enough to glimpse into the double tomb of Ahtehotep and his son Ptahotel, as well as to the tomb of Ti. Finally, those who are even ashamed of the sultry Egyptian sun can study the unfinished Step Pyramid of Sekhemhet, which is south of the Djoser complex, behind the pyramid of Unas.

Photo Sakkara (10)