Dzoser was the most famous Pharaoh of the
Third Dynasty and is credited
primarily with the creation of t
he first step pyramid. There are
numerous ways to spell his name including Dzoser, Djoser, Zoser, Tosorthos, and
Dozer. He lived from 2686-2613 B. C. E. He is described on monuments as the
Horus Neterykhet, which means “the divine body.” According to the
Turin King list, Dzoser ruled for approximately 19 years. He was the second
Pharaoh of the 3rd Dynasty, a dynasty that started the first golden age in
Egyptknown as The Old Kingdom.
It is believed that Dzoser brought an end to a 7-year famine that had
afflicted Egypt. He did this by rebuilding the Temple of the ram-headed God,
Khnum, on the small island of Elephantine. This island is located by the
Nile’s first cataract. Khnum is the god that supposedly controlled the
Nile inundation. After the temple rebuilding was complete, the famine ended.
This event is depicted in a story from Ptolematic times on a large and lengthy
rock on the island of Sehel that is also located at the first cataract. This
means that even after 2 millennia after his reign he was still remembered for
his actions.
Dzoser is mostly known for his step pyramid at Saqqara and the surrounding temples. Saqqara overlooks the ancient capital of Memphis south of modern-day Cairo. In fact, it was Imhotep, Dzoser's vizier or priest, that had the conception of the pyramid. Imhotep was also an architect, astronomer and a physician. He was in charge of the entire building process. Saqqara is the oldest stone building in the world. Until Imhotep, everything was made from mud-brick and wood. The pyramid was made from limestone that came from the Tura quarries.
There is a huge stone wall surrounding the pyramid and courtyard
that measures 597 yards from north to south and 304 yards east to west. The
actual pyramid itself measures 558 feet north to south and 411 feet east to
west. It is compromised of 6 unequal stages that rise 204 feet. The primary use
of the pyramids was for various ceremonies in connection with Dzoser’s
afterlife. The pyramid was built to resemble a ladder, not to look like one but
to act as one so that the dead Pharaoh could climb into the sky and join the
immortality gods.
For more information on Dzoser click here.
REFERENCES:
Britannica
Online-www.britannica.com
www.arth.upenn.edu/101/recitation/recitation03text.html
www.cyberessays.com/history/63.htm
Pictures
Courtesy of www.touregypt.com
by Casey Boone
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