Miss Slayton in Egypt

Today we visited three different locations outside of Cairo. We went to Saqqara, Dahshur and Memphis.

Our first stop was Saqqara to see the first pyramid of Egypt. The stepped pyramid of Djoser was constructed during the 3rd dynasty and is the first structure of its kind using stones. Prior to stone work the ancient Egyptian would build mastabas out of mud stones from the river Nile. This was a huge engineering leap for them. You enter the area through the pharaoh Djoser’s mortuary complex, which is equally stunning and well preserved. When you exit you are greeted by the oldest pyramid of Egypt. Almost 5,000 years old! The area surrounding the necropolis is covered with ruins. Mastabas structures where people who worked for the pharaoh were buried, as well as a beautiful mortuary complex for a princess named Idut. Inside her structure is some amazingly preserved wall reliefs with color. There were also massive hole tombs around the area where sarcophagi had been discovered. These holes where 30 meters deep within the earth.

Our second stop was Dahshur to see three more pyramids!

The Red Pyramid, named that after the red casing it once had. The structure was built with rusty red limestone, thus giving it the name. It was built for the pharaoh Sneferu, and is considered to be the first successfully built smooth pyramid of Egypt. Sneferu just so happens to be the father of Khufu (who the great pyramid of Egypt was built for). You could go inside of the chamber and it was the most amazing thing ever! It was slightly terrifying, and I almost didn’t go because of how narrow and long the entrance was, but I did it! I’m so glad I did because what an experience!

The pyramid directly behind Sneferu’s Red Pyramid, is his Bent Pyramid. They started the construction of the smooth pyramid with an angle of 45, and realized the structure wouldn’t be structurally sound. They changed the angle to 42, thus creating a bend in the middle of the pyramid. Sneferu didn’t approve, thus ordering the construction of the Red Pyramid. The Bent pyramid has the best preserved limestone encasing of any pyramid in Egypt.

The last pyramid was out in the middle of the Sahara desert, so we viewed from afar. It’s called the black pyramid, which was built for Amenemhet III.

Our last stop was in Memphis, the original capital of ancient Egypt. There we saw a beautiful colossal statue of Ramses III. The statute is well preserved and breathe taking to see. Outside in the gardens were pillars from the same period, as well as a sphinx and other smaller statues of Ramses III. Ramses III is very well know pharaoh because of the amount of monuments he produced. He’s the pharaoh with the most structures and artifacts.

Today is our last day in Cairo. We are sad to leave, but excited to see what Luxor has in store for us!