Djoser

Djoser, also known by his throne name Netjerikhet, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Third Dynasty during the Old Kingdom. He reigned circa 2670–2649 BCE, though exact dates vary among scholars. Djoser is best known for commissioning the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, one of the most significant monuments in Egyptian history and the earliest large-scale stone structure in the country.

The Step Pyramid was designed by the architect Imhotep, who served as Djoser’s vizier. It began as a traditional mastaba tomb for the king but was transformed into a stepped pyramid by stacking a succession of progressively smaller stone mastabas. The structure rises to about 62 meters (roughly 204 feet) and represents a major departure from mudbrick construction. The pyramid complex at Saqqara includes a funerary temple, courtyards, ceremonial structures, and enclosure walls, forming a monumental burial precinct.

Djoser’s pyramid marks a turning point in ancient Egyptian architecture and state organization, introducing the use of stone on a grand scale and influencing the design of later Old Kingdom pyramids, culminating in the smooth-faced pyramids at Giza. The project helped establish architectural and administrative practices that supported large-scale royal tomb construction. Imhotep, later revered as a god of wisdom and medicine, is traditionally credited with envisioning the complex and its innovative use of stone.