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"Saqqarah- a splendid site" a Saqqarah Travel Page by uglyscot

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Saqqarah Pages by uglyscot


"Saqqarah- a splendid site" a Saqqarah Travel Page by uglyscot
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uglyscot    
Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought


Real Name: Shane
Lives In: Khartoum, SD
Member Since: Dec 27, 2003
VT Rank: 178

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Page Views: 1,683            Last Visit to Saqqarah: 2004      

Saqqarah- a splendid site

by uglyscot - last update: Jul 12, 2005

Saqqara pyramids

Step Pyramid of Zoser
To me, Saqqarah is a magical site. The first time I saw it I was awestruck. Its position on the plateau and its white colour that day, left a lasting impression. When I take people to see the pyramids I always bring them here first, not just because the Step Pyramid was the first man made stone building, but because the whole necropolis has so much- to me it encapsulates the whole of Egyptian history.
The main pyramid here is the Step Pyramid of Zoser which I mention elsewhere. Other more dilapidated ones belong to Teti, Unas and Sekhemket and Pepi I and II. Those of Unas and Teti have passages from the Book of the Dead.
The Pyramid of Teti is easy to visit. It has a downward sloping passage [mind your head!] leading to 2 rooms. One contains a stone sarcophagus, and the blue painted ceiling is decorated with five-pointed stars.
Mereruka

Meraruka

If time does not allow a trip to Luxor, then Saqqarah is the place to visit. There are tombs that can be entered. The largest is that of Mereruka, who married a member of the royal family. It is beside the Pyramid of Teti, and has 32 rooms. The tomb shows all aspects of life from cooking, hunting and fishing, making gold ornaments, playing and wrestling, in addition to all the religious rites that had to be performed for the deceased,
The picture shows Mereruka stepping out of the false door.

Ka Gemni

Another, smaller and not so noticeable tomb is the mastaba of Ka Gemni, a minor official. [vizier] of the VI th Dynasty. It also has wall paintings, with scenes of everyday activities. There are fine scenes of birds and cattle. Different kinds of birds are easily recognizable.
KaGemni

> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]

Pros:"wonderful tombs"
Cons:"not all the interesting monuments are open to the public"
In A Nutshell:"Ancient Egypt in a nutshell"
uglyscot's Saqqarah Travel Tips

OverviewThings to Do
Tips: 4 - Photos: 4
 
RestaurantsHotels & Accommodations
 
NightlifeOff The Beaten Path
Tips: 1 - Photos: 5
 
Tourist TrapsWarnings Or Dangers
 
Transportation
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
Local Customs
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
 
Packing ListsShopping
Tips: 2 - Photos: 8
 
Sports TravelGeneral Tips

uglyscot's Saqqarah Travelogues
Title [Click to view]Travel YearPictures
Saqqarah - tombs and pyramidsJuly, 2004 8
on the road to SaqqarahJanuary, 2006 7

Comments for uglyscot about Saqqarah
Childish Fri Mar 23, 2007 16:44 UTC
 Great page! It was forbidden to take pictures inside the tombs when I was there :-( Thank you for visiting my still unfinished pages. Hope to find some time to read your Cairo page soon... Regards
evaanna Thu May 25, 2006 20:13 UTC
 Excellent tips on a fascinating place. I actually am a fraction of my husband's height. Hope the spirits weren't confused by the false doors. The Mereruka tomb looks most interesting. Lovely jellabiyas, wish they exported them to Poland.
TheWanderingCamel Tue Nov 22, 2005 14:58 UTC
 I loved Saqqara. That use of hierarchical perspective - the most important is the biggest - is a quite different concept from that used in the west. leyle
XenoHumph Thu Jul 7, 2005 21:16 UTC
 The older pyramids, right (I mean compared to Giza)! really cool (and hot!) Anyway, great page!
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