The Pyramid of Djoser, also called the Step Pyramid, is a monument at Saqqara, near Memphis in Egypt, built for the pharaoh Djoser of the Third Dynasty. It was designed by his official Imhotep, and it was the first large stone structure in Egypt, which began as a flat-topped tomb called a mastaba and was then enlarged by adding smaller layers on top to produce six steps. The pyramid, which rises to about sixty metres, stands in a large walled complex that contains temples, courtyards and false buildings which were used in the king's funeral rites. The Step Pyramid was the forerunner of the smooth-sided pyramids that were built by later kings at Giza and elsewhere.
Before and after
- from c. 2,707 BCE to 2,216 BCEOld Kingdom of Egypt
- from c. 2,700 BCE to 539 BCEElam
- c. 2,700 BCEConstruction of Bent Pyramid
- from c. 2,686 BCE to 2,613 BCEThird Dynasty of Egypt
- c. 2,640 BCEConstruction of Pyramid of Djoser
- from c. 2,613 BCE to 2,498 BCEFourth Dynasty of Egypt
- from c. 2,600s BCE to 2,200s BCEBell beaker culture
- c. 2,601 BCECaral flourishes in the Norte Chico
- from c. 2,601 BCE to 1,901 BCEThe Indus Valley cities reach maturity
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- c. 1,200 BCEIron Age
- c. 700s BCEConstruction of Great Wall of China
- from 206 BCE to 220 CEHan dynasty
- 200 BCEOrigins of Nazca Lines
- 19 BCEConstruction of Western Wall
- from 476 CE to 1492Middle Ages
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 27th century BCE.