Submitted by Sean Williams on Tue, 11/24/2009 - 18:09
Saqqara might be one of Egypt's oldest archaeological sites, but it's certainly one of the hottest right now. And the omnipresent Zahi Hawass has been enlightening fans on the latest breakthroughs and theories circulating the ancient necropolis. The first of these centres on the giant Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt's first pyramid. Eleven burial shafts have been excavated, homes to each of the Old Kingdom pharaoh's daughters. As such it was the only Old Kingdom pyramid built for the king's family.
The cemetery at Saqqara is one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt. Over six kilometres long, it boasts thousands of underground burial sites, as well as the six-step Djoser pyramid – Egypt’s oldest pyramid.
The ruins at Saqqara have long attracted the interest of explorers, grave-robbers and local people. Travellers first reported evidence of antiquities at Saqqara in the 16th century. The Djoser Pyramid and the smaller pyramids around it were hard to miss – but the size of the necropolis only became apparent with the advent of excavations in the 19th century.
Born in Boulogne, France, Auguste Mariette was one of the pre-eminent Egyptologists of the 19th century. Aside from his individual discoveries and triumphs, Mariette was one of the first archaeologists to support the cause of keeping Egyptian antiquities in Egypt.
Mariette joined the Louvre in 1849 and was sent to Egypt the following year to purchase Coptic manuscripts. Having had little success in his mission – and afraid to return empty handed – Mariette developed an interest in excavations.
His big break came when he stumbled across the Serapeum at Saqqara in 1851. This gigantic complex of catacombs was devoted to sacred Apis bulls and contained numerous hidden chambers and sarcophagi.
Mariette spent the next several years in Egypt and gradually came to support the then-radical notion of allowing the Egyptians to hold on to their treasures. In 1859, he convinced the Khedive to found the Department of Antiquities, with himself as its head.
In his new role, Mariette moved to curb the number of treasures exported from Egypt and sold for private gain, and granted himself a virtual monopoly on excavations. His later achievements included clearing the ground around the Great Sphinx and excavating the temples of Dandarah and Edfu.
The sacred bull Apis was associated with the Pharoah, one of whose titles was 'Victorious Bull'. Sacred bulls were chosen according to various criteria, including the triangular white mark on the forehead. They were kept in their own 'court' at Memphis and their mummified remains were kept in the Serapeum at Saqqara, where they were worshipped. Popular devotion to the bull is shown in the dedication of numerous steles to the god. In later Egypt the Apis bull is also identified with Osiris, becoming the 'bull Osiris' after its death. This fine sculpture was found under a wooden structure along the avenue that leads to the Serapeum. It commemorates a bull which died under Pharoah Nectanebo I. It was originally painted.
The Serapeum or Serapeion of Alexandria was erected by Ptolemy III (reigned 246-222 BC) in honour of the god Serapis. Serapis was the result of syncretism between Hellenistic and Egyptian gods, and included elements of the Egyptian gods Osiris and Apis, with attributes of Greek gods such as Zeus, Helios, Dionysus, Hades, and Asklepius. Alexandria was the cult centre for Serapis, but the god was worshipped across the Roman empire. Excavations have unearthed the foundation deposits of the temple - two sets of ten plaques made of varying materials including gold, bronze, silver, faience, Nile-mud and glass.
Very little of the temple remains after its destruction by Christians in the 4th Century AD, but it is possible to enter an underground chamber that contained the cult image and library. Artefacts from the temple are held in the Greco-Roman Museum.
Saqqara
