Djoser’s Step Pyramid, nearly 5,000 years old, has just re-opened after a 14-year renovation project that itself survived political turmoil and financing issues along the way.
The pyramid, built 4,700 years ago by Pharaoh Djoser, a Third Dynasty king, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but nearly lost that designation as it suffered neglect and was in danger of collapse.
The 60-metre high building is credited to Imhotep, sometimes called the world’s first architect. It is described by some as the first large-scale stone construction in history.
The restoration project started in 2006, but was shut down in 2011 after the rebellion that ousted Egypt’s President Mubarak. Work restarted in late 2013, but has been a slow process. The work included not only the exterior, but also internal passageways and the sarcophagus of Djoser.
