Djoser

Djoser was a pharoah of the Third Dynasty of Egypt, also known as Netjerikhet ('body of the gods'). He had a long reign - stated variously by ancient texts as 19 or 29 years - during which time he conquered the Sinai, an important source of minerals as well as a useful buffer zone between Egypt and the states further east.

He is best known for the step pyramid at Saqqara which he commissioned Imhotep to build. It consists of several mastabas on top of each other, and is the earliest of the pyramids. He had earlier begun an unfinished tomb at Abydos, till then the burial place of the pharoahs, and it seems that the beginning of the pyramid at Saqqara may have coincided with moving the capital further north and away from Abydos.

The limestone statue of Djoser now in the Cairo museum is the earliest known life-sized Egyptian statue.

Interesting sites

Egyptian Museum Cairo

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Pyramid of Djoser (Zoser)

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Mastaba Tomb of Perneb, Edwin Smith Surgical Papyrus, Game-board, Model Opening of the Mouth Toolkit, Sacrificial chamber of the tomb of Akhethotep, Seated scribe, Funerary guardian figure