Category:
Containers and related objects, vessels, cylindrical jars
Date:
Ancient Egyptian period, Old Kingdom, 3rd Dynasty (2686-2613 BCE)
Provenance:
Upper Egypt, Giza, Saqqara
Material(s):
Rock, alabaster
Height:
30.8 cm;
Diameter:
13 cm
Hall:
Ancient Egyptian Antiquities, showcase 9
Description
Cylindrical-shaped alabaster vessel.
Djoser's Equipment
Thousands of vessels and plates were found inside the underground passageways below Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, which show a rich array of forms made out of a variety of materials. They are unsurpassed in their beauty.
The Djoser collection is the epitome in craftsmanship and goes back to previous kings from the First and Second Dynasties. It would appear that Djoser collected these treasures of the past to prevent them from being damaged or destroyed. These vessels have inscriptions showing that they belonged to previous kings and Djoser did not erase these, which is taken as proof that he wished to protect them from the ravages of time.
These vessels were cut with a sharp instrument with a hard stone handle, such as flint, and vessels were made out of granite, alabaster, limestone, red granite and quartz. They were buried 33 metres below the Step Pyramid and were excavated by Jean Philippe Lauer during the 1920's. Approximately 40,000 vessels were found in 6000 boxes.
Djoser
The first ruler of the Third Dynsasty whose architect Imhotep built the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The name Djoser was not associated with this pyramid complex except in the New Kingdom, as only his Horus name 'Netjerikhet' was inscribed in his funerary complex.
Djoser's funerary collection is by far one of the largest in terms of quantity. An almost life-size magnificent statue found in Saqqara is now in the Egyptian Museum, alongside a part of a wall decorated with faience tiles. The Saqqara pyramid complex also includes a tomb to the north and a southern tomb for the King's Ka.
The information given here is subject to modification/update as a result of ongoing research.
References
- "Zoser". In: The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt. Edited by Donald B. Redford. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.
- "Zoser". In: Dictionary of Egyptian Civilization. By Posener, Georges, Serge Sauneron and Jean Yoyotte. Translated from the French by Alix Macfarlane. London: Methuen, 1962.
- Corteggiani, Jean Pierre. L'Egypte des Pharaons au Musée du Caire. Paris: Hachette, Les Livres de France, 1986.