Archive Curation, Collections & Discoveries

The Pyramid of Djoser is a site at Saqqara (Ṣaqqārah) necropolis, Egypt, northwest of the city of Memphis. It was built in the 27th century BC during the 3rd Dynasty for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser. The pyramid is the central feature of a vast mortuary complex in an enormous (the Heb-Sed court) courtyard.

Statue of Hathor Protecting Psamtik I

The schist statue depicts Psamtik standing with the seal of a chief scribe hanging from his neck. He is standing beneath the figure of a cow representing the goddess Hathor. Late Period 26th Dynasty, Saqqara. Sourced from; The Egyptian Museum.

In the Saitic period of Psamtik I (664–610 BC) his reign is defined by the reunification of Egypt after the turbulent & occupied years by the Assyrian Empire. In this tempestuous time in Egypt, the Assyrian empire had been depleted from the conquest of Elam & the Viceroy of Babylonia. The decisive battle was fought at Menuf or Momemphis.

With the aid of mercenaries (Ionians, Carians) from Gyges Lydia, Psamtik I (Psammetichus)* becomes sole ruler of a unified Egypt. He established Greek colonies & soldiery near the north west of the Delta & Defenneh in the north east near the frontier of Syria in 665 B.C

During the reign of Psamtik I, Egypt established central governance & reformed the economy. This allowed the country to once again enjoy the glimmer of old glory that had made it prosperous after centuries of instability; the Saite dynasty went further in establishing a prominent position in the Mediterranean world, including the Aegean and Mesopotamian worlds.

The city of Naukratis (also spelled Naucratis) in the Delta region, was set up to accommodate Greeks.

Saqqara (Sakkara) Pyramid maps of shafts/tombs (Left/Personal Collection & Library)., on the (Right) - A modernized version of the map of Saqqara sourced from Smithsonian.

On September 2020, the Egyptian antique team discovered a shaft 30 feet down; into the first find of the “megatombs.” In separate spaces at the bottom of the tomb were two giant coffins, when the team of archaeologists cleared the ruble they found more coffins.

By the Late Period burials were done together this represented the Saitic period of prosperity and their mirroring of the Great Period when it came to burials and the return of stone sarcophagi & wooden coffins, in particular the difference between Macedonian and Ptolemaic Egypt (332–30 BCE) which followed & fashioned burials from the fall of Ramessides generally typified by triple mummy cases that were over-painted, over-gilded. In the Saitic period this came into demand.

Researchers say the coffins likely hold the remains of members of a Teti-worshipping funerary members. Courtesy of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiques

The coffins were found in three burial shafts at depths of 12 meters in the sweeping Saqqara necropolis. Shown in the background is the site's step Pyramid, the oldest in Egypt. Ahmed Hasan/AFP via Getty Images. - Saite period under Psamtik I (664-610 B.C.) mirrored the models and art from the Old Kingdom in particular in the art & architecture.

A cache of Late Period (26th Dynasty) coffins in a burial shaft called Pinomis at Saqqara. Biggest find of 'megatombs' at the ancient cemetery of Saqqara. Inscriptions claim it belongs to an Old Kingdom judge 4,300 - year old tomb of a high-ranking official named Pinomis. Photo: Roger Anis

Stele dedicated by the doorman of Horudja temple to Apis. Year 21 of Psamtik I, 643 BC. Louvre Museum. (Credits: Photo by Rama)

The sacred bulls were enshrined in sarcophagi in a new section of the Serapeum.

The coffin of a man who lived during the Late Period. The iconography on the wooden stylized coffin from the Saite Period, depicts a winged goddess Nut a protector the mummy inside; different from the function of funerary prayer found inside generally in hieroglyphs, above is his name and parentage. Picture by Roger Anis