Museum of Imhotep in Saqqara
While visiting Saqqara’s ancient site, do not miss a visit to the Imhotep Museum at Saqqara. The museum shows some important pieces from the time of Imhotep and his King Djoser. It gives you an idea of how builders constructed the pyramid. It also shows how this genius architect cut and designed limestone for the first time in history.
Who Is Imhotep?
Imhotep was a brilliant architect. He also made significant contributions to art and medicine. This makes him one of the most well-known architects in ancient Egyptian and global history. He was the earliest known doctor. He created several medicines and remedies. These treated a wide range of illnesses. He was also the first architect to use stone columns in his many projects. Historical records confirm this.
The Imhotep Museum at Saqqara honors Imhotep’s memory. He was one of ancient Egypt’s most accomplished architects. He conceived the idea of building pyramid-shaped tombs. Imhotep built the Step Pyramid of Djoser. This was Egypt’s first pyramid. He also built a complex around it. Djoser’s Step Pyramid is the world’s oldest surviving stone structure.
Before this, they buried the deceased deep in the ground in mudbrick tombs. With Imhotep’s innovations and creations, all of these ideas were altered. Imhotep was the first to employ columns in the construction of diverse structures, to create temple ceilings with stone blocks, and to erect a statue above ground level, in addition to being the first to construct temples and pyramids out of stone.
A well-known astrologer
Imhotep was a well-known astrologer. Some historians and scientists claim he devised the Ephemeris System and the ancient Egyptian method of writing with black ink. People still use all of these today. He also created and wrote several poems. The royal family and the public in ancient Egypt knew these poems well.
Imhotep served King Djoser of the 3rd Dynasty. His remarkable abilities gave him several key roles. He became the king’s general director and oversaw the royal palace’s operations. During Djoser’s reign, he also became a vizier. He enjoyed many privileges, just like the royal family. Imhotep’s disappearance from historical records is a huge mystery. Ancient Egyptian archives do not mention his death. No one has yet unearthed his tomb.
Museum of Imhotep in Saqqara
Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, inaugurated the new Imhotep Museum in April 2006. He did this with much fanfare. You must see this museum on your next trip to Saqqara. It is a contemporary museum with cutting-edge technology and security. Saqqara is twenty kilometers south of the Giza Pyramids. You can find the Step Pyramid and King Zoser’s (Djoser’s) burial complex there. Saqqara also has the Pyramid of Unas, the Teti Pyramid, and Old Kingdom tombs that portray scenes of daily life.
Artifacts in the Museum
Archaeologists have discovered treasures from several periods in the dunes of Saqqara. These periods include the Archaic Period, the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom. They also found items from the Late Period and the Greco-Roman Period. There is still so much more to learn! The excavations continue. Archaeologists discover new riches each season.
The construction of the new museum began in 1997. The aim was to create a separate location dedicated just to the numerous discoveries made in this region. Visitors will be happy to see items that are tastefully exhibited, well-air-conditioned buildings, and contemporary restroom facilities at the entrance, not far from where the ticket office was formerly located.
The Sections of the Museum
The museum has five sections: 1) the theater and a model of the funeral complex; 2) the Main Hall with architectural features; 3) New Discoveries; 4) Model Tomb Hall; and 5) the Jean-Philippe Lauer Library. Visitors can see a National Geographic short video on the Imhotep Museum in the theater. A replica of the funerary complex in the middle of the chamber depicts the Step Pyramid and surrounding buildings in dazzling white, as they would have appeared when they were fresh.
Jean-Philippe Lauer (1902-2001) built the model. He was an archaeologist who made several discoveries at Saqqara. He also dedicated his life to repairing these structures. The museum dedicates one of its halls to preserving his library. The blue-green faience is the main hall’s most striking element. Workers gathered and rebuilt these tiles. They placed them in the Step Pyramid’s anti-chamber and burial chamber. This shows tourists how the walls of those chambers, as well as the Southern Tomb, would have appeared in ancient times.
Royal Scribe Statue
There is also a statue of Ptah-Shepses (5th Dynasty) from Abu Sir, who is a scribe. Reading and writing are the two sorts of scribe statues. Ptah-Shepses is shown as a reading scribe in this statue. The 2nd and 3rd Dynasties left behind an extraordinary collection of enormous alabaster jars, some standing over one meter tall. These jars were found in the Step Pyramid’s lower chambers. A block depicting the procedures for manufacturing alabaster jars is included in the display.
A mummy discovered during recent excavations near the Teti Pyramid is currently on exhibit in the museum’s “New Discoveries” hall as one of the museum’s finest. We discovered the most gorgeous mummy I had ever seen as we shifted the dunes. The mummy took my breath away. Its colors—yellow, blue, red, and black—looked as though someone had painted them only yesterday.
We know it dates from the 30th Dynasty, but we don’t know the owner’s name because there aren’t any inscriptions to inform us. The mask has a golden finish. The mummy itself is 176 cm long. Linen covers it. The casing has painted scenes. A pectoral with a winged scarf is painted on the breast. Five gods with scepters stand on either side. Ma’at, a winged deity with two wings, hides behind the necklace. The mummy’s legs show scenes of the deity Anubis executing mummifications.
Dr. Zahi Hawas
Artifacts discovered during Dr. Zahi Hawass’ excavations near the Tomb of Qar are also on display in this hall. A dentist from the Old Kingdom owned this recently found tomb. Surgical instruments and bronze sculptures of gods and goddesses like Isis, Horus, Osiris, Ptah, Anubis, and others can be found. Dr. Zahi Hawass has had a significant impact on Egyptology.
Excavations, monument restoration, new museum openings, countless books and articles published, stolen treasures recovered, and public awareness of Ancient Egypt and discoveries raised through the media—the face of Ancient Egypt in today’s world has reached new heights under his guidance. “His name will endure eternally,” as the Ancient Egyptians could say.
Hall 4 features a model of a tiny tomb with traditional burial materials such as a coffin, a wooden statue, ceramic jars, and offerings, as well as a replica of a small tomb. We even discovered several giving jars that had cheese in them!
The Pyramid Texts
A pyramidion discovered near the Teti Pyramid by Dr. Zahi Hawass, some limestone maces, a wooden coffin from King Mery-en-Ra of the 6th Dynasty, a limestone block with pyramid texts from the Pepi I Pyramid, some alabaster canopic jars, and a limestone sphinx of King Unas is among the other items in this hall. Despite all of the amazing items on the show today, we are always on the lookout for more. Pe
Perhaps one day we will be able to unearth Imhotep’s tomb. Only 30% of the riches from Ancient Egypt have been unearthed so far, according to legend. Who knows what we’ll find tomorrow, next week, next year, or… the quest continues to be exciting and suspenseful. No one knows what the Egyptian sands may hold, just that they will continue to reveal time’s secrets. Photos taken at the Museum of Imhotep in Saqqara after the renovation in 2024
