The ancient Egyptians have buried the dead in the Saqqara cemetery for thousands of years. Now, every year, researchers have discovered new discoveries at this site, including nameless masks, miraculous life-and-death Egyptian medicine and even nameless workshops.
But why did many ancient Egyptians want to be buried there?
Nico Staring, Egyptian and visiting researcher at the University of Leiden (Netherlands), told Live Science: Saqqara has been used for thousands of years and the reasons for being buried at this location vary over time.
An important reason is that it is located near Memphis city. "Saqqara is a land cemetery associated with the capital Memphis, which has remained an administrative center throughout Egyptian history as well as a major religious center worshiping many Egyptian gods," said Salima Ikram, Professor of Egyptology at the American University of Cairo.
"It is difficult to exaggerate Memphis's importance to Saqqara," said Staring. Saqqara should be seen as part of a larger urban living environment. The residents of Memphis have shaped and reshaped the cemetery over many generations, so the life history of the city and its cemeteries is closely linked."
Saqqara is also venerable for some of the first Egyptian pharaohs who built their tombs there. During the Second Dynasty (around 2800 to 2650 BC), the pharaohs Hotepsekhemwy, Reneb and Ninetjer all built tombs at this site - Lara Weiss, CEO of the Roemer and Pelizaeus Museum in Germany, said.
The third-line pharaohs of the third dynasty, Djoser, built a famous terraced pyramid in Saqqara, and several other pharaots, such as the fifth-line pharaots userkaf, Unas and Djedkare Isesi, also built pyramids at the site.
When the pharaohs were buried, "a large number of royal officials built what was called mastaba mausoleums in the vicinity," Staring added, explaining that the land was not reserved for alone.
Even in the new Kingdom (around 1550 to 1070 BC), when the pharaohs were buried in the Valley of the Kings about 483 km away, many officials still wanted to be buried in Saqqara. That is due to the history of the site and its connection to the Egyptian gods, according to researcher Staring.
While the kings were buried in the Valley of the Kings in Thebes, the most important kings of the kings built their tombs in Saqqara - a site bearing a strong historical imprint and considered home to many famous gods such as the god of the dead Sokar.
Djoser's steps pyramids are especially highly appreciated after their construction. Interestingly, old relics from the past continue to affect future generations, even after 1,000 years of age.
Although it is an ancient cemetery, Saqqara is still a burial site that is still active today, although at a much lower level.
Professor Ikram noted that Saqqara's importance declined significantly as Christmas became the main religion in Egypt in the fourth and fifth centuries. But even as Egypts da-dingism fades, Saqqara remains in use for example, the Coptic monastery of Jeremiah was built at the site in the fifth century.
Today, Saqqara cemetery welcomes a large number of archaeologists and tourists. A place for the living, not the dead, this place is more lively than ever, said Professor Staring.
