Saqqara and Abu Sir were both necropolises of Memphis at the time when Memphis was the capital of all Egypt (around 3100 BC) which was founded by King Menes, the first king of the First Dynasty. Located some 20 km south-southeast of Giza, it is part of an 1 by 8 km strip of land west of the Nile River.

The major structures in the area are:
 The Zoser (or Djoser) Step Pyramid
 the First Dynasty Tombs,
 the Mereruka Tomb
 the Ankhmahor Tomb
 the Teti, Pyramid
 the Mastaba Ti
 the Serapeum
 the Philosophers� Circle
 the Tombs of Ptah-Hotep and Akhti-Hotep
 the Userkef Pyramid
 the Zoser�s Houses of North/South
 the Unas� Pyramid
 the Sekhemket Pyramid
 the Serdab, the Mortuary Temple
 the Heb-sed Court, the Great South Court
 the Hypostyle Hall
 the Horemheb Tomb
 the Sekhemket Pyramid
 and the additional Monastery of St. Jeremiah which was added much, much later by the Christians - in 5th century A.D.

The first pyramid was the Zoser Pyramid of the Step Pyramid, built for King Zoser in 2750 BC. The design and the large scale application of the technology was attributed to Imhotep � the King�s chief architect and �Director of Works� of All Egypt. The Zoser�s Pyramid has originally 125 meters by 109 meters base by 62.5 meter high, which was built in three stages. First as just a simple mastaba, then added around and over it a four-step pyramid and finally this six-step pyramid. It consists many galleries, tunnels and rooms.

The Tombs of Ptah and Akhti Hoteps (son and father) designed their tomb complex. It consists of two burial chamber, a chapel and a hall of pillars. They were officials during the reign of Djerkare (2388-2356 B.C.) who was the eighth king of the 5th Dynasty.

Philosophers� Circle is an area beneath a protective roof where statues of Greek philosophers and poets were arranged in circle. This be added during the Ptolemic period.

Serapeum is where the sacred Apis bull (cult animal) was entombed. The Apis bull was the calf of a cow struck by lightning, believe to be the incarnation of Ptah, the god of Memphis. Once the cow was �divinely� impregnated, it will never give birth again and her calf will be keept in the Temple of Ptah and worshipped. There were 25 Apis embalmed found here ina monolith coffin of 70 tons each, and a mummified bull which is now in Cairo Agricultural Meseum.

The Sekhemket Pyramid is an unfinished one. Construction was stopped when it was 3 meters high � for unknown reason/s.

Mastaba of Ti, is a tomb the held great secrets about the Egypt at about the end of the Old Kingdom. Ti was a high kingdom official who served under three pharaohs.

A worthwhile visit to Saqqara really needs about a day �

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Some facts about structures around Abu Sir

Abu Sir is part of the 5th dynasty (25th to 24th BC), an extension of Saqqara necropolis. It is just about a kilometer or so from the main Saqqara complex. It consist some quarters, mortuary temples, tombs and pyramids. Originally there were 14 pyramids in all at Abu Sir of which only four are left, though terribly damaged � the Pyramids of Sahure, of Nyuserre, of Neferirkare and that of Raneferef. All four were built almost in line within half a km space.

The Pyramid of Sahure is located at the northern most of the group. It is complete by badly deterioted outside. In 1996, for the first time it was opened to the public but only in 1999 it was officially or formally. Asphalt road leading to it was built, hooking up it with Saqqara. Its entrance was so narrow that leads one to a 77-meter long corridor into the burial chamber.

The Pyramid of Nyuserre is the most dilapidated of the three completed pyramids. South of Nyuserre�s is his father�s pyramid, the Pyramid of Neferirkare which originally stand at 45 meters high with outer stone casing. It is similar to that Zoser�s Pyramid or Step Pyramid in Saqqara. The sarcophagus of the king itself was found here.

The Pyramid of Raneferef was left unfinished by the builders.

The excavation in the area is still going on. It is promising, lot of stuff are yet to be uncovered.

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