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The Pyramid of Djoser is the
mother of all pyramids and
over 4600 years old. It is a step
pyramid built by the Vizier
Imhotep for Pharaoh Djoser,
comprising six “mastabas” or
rectangular, flat-roofed tombs
stacked in decreasing size to a
height of 62metres. Clad in
polished white limestone, the
pyramid measured 109m x
125m at the base and was
designed to contain the
Pharaoh Djoser’s mummified
remains. However, with the
ravages of time – weathering,
looting and seismic activity –
Egypt’s oldest pyramid has
been steadily turning to dust.
Considered the “most
ambitious challenge in
archaeological history”, the
race was on to save the oldest
pyramid. Hundreds of
Egyptian labourers along with
a team of engineers were
about to embark on a mission,
which involved the restoration
of a building while parts of it
were falling all around them.
Above ground, the challenge
was to repair the badly
eroded steps and replace
them with thousands of
stones which had fallen or
been stolen over past
millennia! The most
dangerous restoration work,
however, was located 30m
below ground level where
the King’s burial chamber
was feared to be collapsing.
It is not merely the outwardly
visible step pyramid that is
architecturally inspiring, but
its magnificence which lies
within. Several tunnels,
radiating from the base of
the pyramid, built to store
food and wealth for the
king’s afterlife lay hidden
several metres below
ground. It was feared that
the collapse of the burial
chamber would preclude
further discovery of places of
architectural interest within.