The Art of Ancient Egypt | Publications for Educators | Explore & Learn

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View of Saqqara
Photograph by the Egyptian Expedition, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1913

In the background is the step pyramid of King Djoser (ca. 2630-2611 B.C.), usually thought to be the earliest stone structure built by the Egyptians, nearly five thousand years ago. All around the pyramid complex are cemeteries where royal officials were buried throughout Egyptian history. Still visible are remains of Old Kingdom mastaba tombs. These had an underground chamber in which the deceased was placed and a rectangular aboveground structure with inclined sides. The mastabas were aligned along streets like houses and were meant to be eternal dwelling places for the dead. Over the centuries, windblown sand and debris partially and sometimes completely buried these mastabas.

In the middle ground on the right is the Museum excavation site. Note the tent and equipment on the sand. To the left of the camp the Museum archaeologists are looking down into a pit where they are clearing the sand away from the tomb of Perneb. Perneb lived at the end of the Fifth Dynasty (ca. 2350-2323 B.C.), almost three hundred years after King Djoser. Perneb had his tomb built near Djoser's pyramid complex because this was deemed to be sacred ground.

Notice: the site and the pyramid

Discuss: why the expedition photographer took the picture, what activities you can discern

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