+2-0106-940-8877 Reservation@TripsinEgypt.com
+2-0106-940-8877 Reservation@TripsinEgypt.com

16Dec
December 16, 2018

King Djoser

Who is King Djoser?

King Djoser was the one who started this completely magnificent epoch, as he was the first pharaoh of the third dynasty in the old kingdom of ancient Egypt.  He was known with other names including Tosorthros, Netjerikhet, and Sesorthos. His father was king Khasekhemwy and his mother was queen Nimaathap. King Djoser ruled for about twenty years and he is best known for his step pyramid, which is the first pyramid in Egypt. Through our article, you will know the entire info about the life of King Djoser includes:

King Djoser Identity & Facts

King Djoser Facts - Trips in Egypt

In the Egyptian Museum, there is a painted limestone statue of King Djoser, which represents the oldest Egyptian statue. There is a copy from this statue stands next to the original one in Saqqara. King Djoser was known as Netjerikhet, which means “Divine of the Body” and he succeeded his brother to the throne. His reign witnessed a great technological innovation in the use of stone architecture.

King Djoser Family Tree

King Djoser Family Tree - Trips in Egypt

We don’t know much about King Djoser’s personal life and his family. King Djoser was the son of Khasekhemwy and Nimaathap. He married Hetephernebti, and the evidence on this is a fragment of relief from a building at Hermopolis. He had two daughters but only was known by the name, Inetkawes. The name of the other daughter was destroyed and we don’t know anything about it. The date of King Djoser’s death is uncertain and he was buried in his famous Saqqara Pyramid in lower Egypt.

The Political Achievements of King Djoser

King Djoser Achievements - Trips in Egypt

When he reached the throne, he immediately started with the construction of his building projects. The age of King Djoser was full of achievements and it witnessed many events including the construction of architectural monuments, agricultural developments, trade, and the rise of the cities. He also succeeded in securing the country, which helped in preserving the stability of Egypt in his reign. Through his military expeditions, he expanded the realm into the region in the Sinai Peninsula. That is not all, he was able to gain victory over the Libyans so the armies of King Djoser were able to bring honor to his name and to his country. He also used to mine for valuable minerals such as turquoise and copper by sending expeditions to Sinai. Another achievement of King Djoser was fixing the southern boundary of his kingdom at the first cataract.

King Djoser Pyramid

King Djoser Pyramid - Trips in Egypt

His main achievement was the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, which was the first pyramid to be built and was the starting point of many mastaba tombs one after another. It was built in the first place as a square mastaba but after that, they added five more mastabas to it and it became a step pyramid, which is made of polished white limestone. It contains one tight corridor, which leads to the close midst of the monument. It is 62 meters high and the measurement of its base is 125 X 109 meters. It was built by very skillful Egyptian builders not slaves and it was the tallest structure of that time and became a famous tourist landmark visited by many tourists. Kings before were buried in mastabas, which were established of clay brick but the step pyramid was built through six mastabas lying above each other and each one is smaller than the one beneath.

Around the complex, there is a temple, many courtyards, chapels, and living quarters of priests. About 11.6 million cubic feet of stone and clay were used in constructing the pyramid. Inside the pyramid, there was a courtyard that contains many cultic buildings such as the southern pavilion, the entrance colonnade, the southern tomb, and the famous serdab.  This serdab includes a seating statue of King Djoser.

The Famine Stele During the Reign of Djoser

Famine Stele During the Reign of Djoser - Trips in Egypt

It is an inscription date back to the Ptolemaic period, which started from 332 to 31 BC after the reign of King Djoser. It is written Egyptian hieroglyphs and was located on Sehel Island in the Nile. This astonishing stele narrates how the king saved his country. Unfortunately, it was broken and no one knew how to fix the problem but it shows how King Djoser rebuilt the temple of Khnum on the island of Elephantine at the First Cataract. It also tells a story of a seven-year period of drought and famine during the reign of Pharaoh King Djoser of the third dynasty.

King Djoser and Imhotep

King Djoser and Imhotep - Trips in Egypt

Imhotep was King Djoser’s main viziers. He supervised the construction of King Djoser’s tomb in addition to the tomb of King Sekhemkhet. The name of Imhotep was mentioned in the famous Papyrus Westcar but because the Papyrus was badly damaged, the name of Imhotep was lost. Imhotep was so important to King Djoser and that’s why he mentioned Imhotep’s name in many of the inscriptions in Saqqara Necropolis.

Explore the Heritage of Ancient Egypt through our Tours

Finally, if you prefer to visit the monuments of King Djoser in Saqqara beside the other landmarks of Pharaohs, Please check our Egypt tour packages and let us transport you to another fantasy world in Egypt:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

  • What Should I Wear While Being in Egypt?

    You should wear whatever you want. It is advised to wear something light from cotton or linen, comfortable and put on sunblock during your time in Egypt in the summer and wear comfortable footwear like a closed-toe shoe to sustain the sandy terrain.

  • What to Pack for Your Egypt Tour?

    You should bring a brimmed hat and sunglasses if you not used to the Egyptian sun &pack everything you could ever need and put in a small bag so you could move easily between your destinations.

  • Are All Nile Cruises Available at Any Time?

    Yes, it is available all years. as the Nile from Aswan to Luxor takes three to four days of sailing on Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the total cost of 600$ and the Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan take four to five days in Saturday, Monday and Thursday for the coast of 650$.

  • Why book Trips in Egypt?

    We have experience in vacation planning for more than 10 years & our staff consists of the most professional operators, guides and drivers who dedicate all of their time & effort create the perfect vacation. All of our tours are customized by Travel, Financial & Time advisors to fit your every possible need during your time in egypt. we always keep in mind that your safety & comfort are our main priority until you return home.

  • Is it safe to travel to Egypt?

    Yes, it is absolutely safe to travel to egypt, You will feel secure in Egypt as the current atmosphere of the country is very peaceful after the government took powerful measures like restructuring the entire tourist police to include all the important and tourist attractions in Egypt and construct an entire environment dedicated for ensuring the lives of all tourists.

  • What are Egypt's Visa Requirements?

    They are very simples, If you want to apply for a Visa On Arrival that lasts for 30 days then you should be one of the eligible countries(check the link), have a valid passport with at least 6 months remaining and pay 25$ USD entry fee in cash. As for the E-Visa for 30 days, you should have a valid passport for at least 8 months, complete the online application, pay the e-visa fee then print the e-visa to later be presented to the airport border guard. You could be one of the countries eligible for a free visa for 90 days.

  • What is the Weather is Like?

    The temperature of Egypt ranges from 37c to 14 c, Summer in Egypt is somehow hot and winter is cool and mild but sometimes it becomes cold at night. The average of low temperatures vary from 9.5 °C in the wintertime to 23 °C in the summertime and average high temperatures vary from 17 °C in the wintertime to 32 °C in the summertime while the temperature is moderate all along the coasts.

  • Should I Give Tips in Egypt?

    It is totally up to you, but if you choose to you can tip the servers at your restaurant 5-10% by handing it to them directly and 5 Egyptian Pounds as a general tip of anyone.

  • What is the Best Time of Visit Egypt?

    It is known the best time to travel to Egypt is in the winter from September to April as the climate becomes a bit tropical, a warm atmosphere with a winter breeze. You will also be notified a week before your trip if the weather is unsafe or if any changes have been made.

  • Can I Enter the Pyramids?

    Yes, you can enter the pyramids for the small fee of 20$.

  • How to Enjoy Egypt During Ramadan?

    Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslims that should be celebrated by non-Muslims and feel the essence of the Islamic culture. You can fast with the Muslim or just observe but you are always welcome to join the celebrations and festivals.

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