Apis Bull Sarcophagus, Serapeum, Saqqara
The Serapeum consists of the burial catacombs of the sacred Apis bulls, whose mummified bodies were interred here, each in its own vast granite sarcophagus in separate tunnel-vaulted chambers off the main tunnel-like corridors. Today this eerie labyrinthine subterranean space has plenty of atmosphere, the bodies of the mummified bulls have long gone, but the enormous sarcophagi that housed them remain.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serapeum_of_Saqqara
Saqqara, the necropolis of Memphis, is one of the most fascinating sites in Egypt, as well as one of its earliest. The major monument here is Djoser's step pyramid, the earliest stone-built architectural monument which dominates the site.
Other pharaohs built pyramids here though most have not survived in such good conditions and some were never even finished. Two of the pyramids (those of Unas and Teti) contain chambers decorated with hieroglyph texts (the so called 'Pyramid Texts') that are amongst the earliest manifestations of ancient Egyptian writing.
The most significant survival from an artistic point of view however are the many early mastaba tombs (built from mud-brick and adorned with fine limestone reliefs within). Most visitors will not have time to do them justice and may have to just choose a couple to focus on if making a first visit. The art is of a very high quality and quite remote stylistically from the more esoteric scenes within the much later tombs of Thebes.
Saqqara can be a bewildering site to explore at first, but a little prior research will reveal the locations and best places to visit.
Apis Bull Sarcophagus, Serapeum, Saqqara
The Serapeum consists of the burial catacombs of the sacred Apis bulls, whose mummified bodies were interred here, each in its own vast granite sarcophagus in separate tunnel-vaulted chambers off the main tunnel-like corridors. Today this eerie labyrinthine subterranean space has plenty of atmosphere, the bodies of the mummified bulls have long gone, but the enormous sarcophagi that housed them remain.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serapeum_of_Saqqara
Saqqara, the necropolis of Memphis, is one of the most fascinating sites in Egypt, as well as one of its earliest. The major monument here is Djoser's step pyramid, the earliest stone-built architectural monument which dominates the site.
Other pharaohs built pyramids here though most have not survived in such good conditions and some were never even finished. Two of the pyramids (those of Unas and Teti) contain chambers decorated with hieroglyph texts (the so called 'Pyramid Texts') that are amongst the earliest manifestations of ancient Egyptian writing.
The most significant survival from an artistic point of view however are the many early mastaba tombs (built from mud-brick and adorned with fine limestone reliefs within). Most visitors will not have time to do them justice and may have to just choose a couple to focus on if making a first visit. The art is of a very high quality and quite remote stylistically from the more esoteric scenes within the much later tombs of Thebes.
Saqqara can be a bewildering site to explore at first, but a little prior research will reveal the locations and best places to visit.