The funerary chapel of the south tomb at the complex of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Ṣaqqārah, Egypt
Social Media Share Tools
Object Details
- Local Numbers
- T 6 EGY 52.1 EE 59
- General
- Title is provided by EEPA staff based on photographer's notes.
- Local Note
- 57938 1 75
- Frame value is 6.
- Slide No. T 6 EGY 52.1 EE 59
- Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Collection Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Place
- Africa
- Egypt
- Topic
- Cultural landscapes
- Monuments
- Architecture -- Egypt
- Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- See more items in
- Eliot Elisofon Field collection
- Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Egypt
- Extent
- 1 Slide (col.)
- Date
- 1959
- Archival Repository
- Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
- Identifier
- EEPA.1973-001, Item EEPA EECL 17086
- Type
- Archival materials
- Slides
- Color slides
- Collection Citation
- Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
- Collection Rights
- Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
- Genre/Form
- Color slides
- Scope and Contents
- "The dominant appearance of the Step Pyramid inside the complex of Djoser is designed to denote the divine position of the dead king. The different structures inside represent a selection of units that were essential for the existence of the king in the afterlife: the south tomb and its mortuary chapel, the Hed-Sed chapels and temple 'T', the mortuary temple and serdad, the pavilions of the South and North, and the Step Pyramid itself. The funerary chapel that belongs to the south tomb has a paneled wall and its top is decorated with the figures of the sacred cobras, or uraeus serpents, to symbolize hope in a new life." [Zahi Hawass, 2003: The Treasures of the Pyramids. White Star Publishers]. "Saqqâra (Ṣaqqārah) is a large necropolis south of Cairo and west of ancient Memphis. It was the necropolis of ancient Memphis; has remains of several pyramids from 5th and 6th dynasties and the famous Step Pyramid, the earliest true pyramid in Egypt, built for King Zoser (Djoser) of the 3rd dynasty ca. 2630 BC by his prime minister Imhotep. It is not to be confused with the modern town of the same name." [The J. P. Getty Fund: Thesaurus of Geographical Names]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.
- Collection Restrictions
- Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
- Record ID
- ebl-1536870822481-1536871013594-1
- Metadata Usage
- CC0
Related Content
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.