He has directed numerous excavations and epigraphic expeditions, at sites including the entire mountain of El-Hawawish ( in excess of 800 Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period rock-cut tombs ), Quseir El Amarna, El Hagarsa ( near Sohag ), Deir El Gebrawi, Giza, as well as the Unis and Teti pyramid cemeteries at Saqqara.

It is also worth noting that, during this time, mastabas of the high priests of Ptah were constructed near the royal pyramids at Saqqara, showing that the royalty and the clergy of Memphis at that time were closely linked.

In this capacity, he represents the god of the necropolis of Saqqara and other famous sites where the royal pyramids were built.

Another 16 Egyptian kings built pyramids at Saqqara, which are now in various states of preservation or dilapidation.

However, the full development of the pyramid style of building was reached not at Saqqara, but during the building of the " great pyramids " at Giza.

Of these queens, Neith, Iput, and Udjebten each had their own minor pyramids and mortuary temples as part of the king's own pyramid complex in Saqqara.

The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are found at Saqqara, northwest of Memphis.

South of the main pyramid field at Saqqara is a second collection of later, smaller pyramids, including those of Pepi I, Isesi, Merenre, Pepi II and Ibi.

The Egyptian historian Al-Idrisi ( d. 1251 ) developed another archaeological methodology in his book Anwar for Egyptology, which included: " reasons for the study of the importance of the pyramids ; description of the route to the site ; description of the pyramids and their inscriptions ; measuring, and checking previous measurements ; analysis of the form of the pyramid and reasons for building, with a critical review of literature ( more than 22 authorities quoted ) on the subject ; study of sediments as an indication of the flood level ; chemical analysis of clay in building material, by studying its mineral content in order to check place of origin ; regular visits to the site to see it in different conditions, and to recheck measurements ; noting stones reused at Jeremias Monastery, Saqqara as evidence of earlier dates, an observation confirmed by modern research.

Written in Old Egyptian, the pyramid texts were carved on the walls and sarcophagi of the pyramids at Saqqara during the 5th and 6th Dynasties of the Old Kingdom.

As part of his work Perring created several maps, plans and cross-sections of the pyramids at Abu Roasch, Gizeh, Abusir, Saqqara and Dahshur.

From this period date many developments of the Saqqara Serapeum, including the building of the Chamber of Poets, as well as the dromos adorning the temple, and many elements of Greek-inspired architecture.

Because of its antiquity and its large population, Memphis had several necropoleis spread along the valley, including the most famous, Saqqara.

View of Saqqara necropolis, including Djoser's Pyramid of Djoser | step pyramid ( centre ).

Professor Ockinga specialises in the art and language of the Egyptian New Kingdom and has excavated extensively at a variety of locations in Egypt, including El Mashayikh ( near Abydos ), Awlad Azzaz ( near Sohag ), Dra Abu el-Naga, and Saqqara.

Directly north of Saqqara is a cemetery of lower-ranking officials of the Old Kingdom, including the following tombs:

Although he seems to have started an unfinished tomb at Abydos ( Upper Egypt ), Djoser was eventually buried in his famous pyramid at Saqqara in Lower Egypt.

Djoser was buried in his famous step pyramid at Saqqara.

As one of the officials of the Pharaoh Djoser, he designed the Pyramid of Djoser ( the Step Pyramid ) at Saqqara in Egypt in 2630 – 2611 BC.

* Djoser, king of Egypt, commissions the Step Pyramid at Saqqara

Considered to be the first engineer, architect and physician in history known by name, Imhotep designed the Pyramid of Djoser ( the Step Pyramid ) at Saqqara in Egypt around 2630-2611 BC, and may have been responsible for the first known use of columns in architecture.

He built a small pyramid at Saqqara, originally named " Beautiful are the places of Unas ", close to the Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Emmer had a special place in ancient Egypt, where it was the main wheat cultivated in Pharaonic times, although cultivated einkorn wheat was grown in great abundance during the Third Dynasty, and large quantities of it were found preserved, along with cultivated emmer wheat and barleys, in the subterranean chambers beneath the Step Pyramid at Saqqara.

Step pyramid | Step pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, Egypt

The first king of the Old Kingdom was Djoser ( sometime between 2691 and 2625 BC ) of the third dynasty, who ordered the construction of a pyramid ( the Step Pyramid ) in Memphis ' necropolis, Saqqara.

Buried next to the Saqqara Step Pyramid, its base lies 65 feet underground and is believed to have been 50 feet tall when it was built.

" The first notable pharaoh of the Old Kingdom was Djoser ( 2630 – 2611 BC ) of the Third Dynasty, who ordered the construction of a pyramid ( the Step Pyramid ) in Memphis ' necropolis, Saqqara.

Zoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara — metaphor, in stone, for Egypt's social stratification ( discussed in Pharaoh, chapter 18 ).

The embalming and funeral scenes ; the court protocol ; the waking and feeding of the gods ; the religious beliefs, ceremonies and processions ; the concept behind the design of Pharaoh Zoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara ; the descriptions of travels and of locales visited on the Nile and in the desert ; Egypt's exploitation of Nubia as a source of gold — all draw upon scholarly documentation.

The ostracon depicting this diagram was found in the area of the Step Pyramid in Saqqara.

The ruined pyramid of Userkaf at Saqqara.

View of the remains of Unas ’ pyramid at Saqqara

His existence was established by the discovery of his small pyramid in South Saqqara which also continues the late Old Kingdom tradition of listing pyramid texts in his tomb.

Ibi's pyramid is the last ever built in Saqqara, located to the northeast of Shepseskaf's tomb and near the causeway of the pyramid of Pepi II.

At Saqqara, the oldest complete stone building complex known in history was built: Djoser's step pyramid, built during the third dynasty.

Clusters of private tombs were thus formed in Saqqara around the pyramid complexes of Unas and Teti.

The Pyramid of Djoser ( Zoser ), or step pyramid ( kbhw-ntrw in Egyptian ) is an archeological remain in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt, northwest of the city of Memphis.

Also, a small pyramid believed to have been constructed by King Ibi of the eighth dynasty has been identified at Saqqara.

Only one pyramid believed to belong to King Merikare ( 2065-2045 BC ) has been identified at Saqqara.

Egypt's chief archaeologist Zahi Hawass, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, announced, on November 11, 2008, that she was entombed, in a 4, 300-year-old headless 5 metre ( 16-foot-tall ) Saqqara most complete subsidiary pyramid.

The ruins of Teti's pyramid ( Saqqara )

Pyramid texts from Teti I's pyramid at Saqqara