Egypt reopens ancient tomb to tourists

This picture taken on September 14, 2021 shows a view of the side of the step pyramid of the third dynasty Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Djoser (27th century BC) at the Saqqara Necropolis south of Egypt’s capital Cairo [KHALED DESOUKI/AFP via Getty Images]

Egypt today reopened to tourists the 4,700-year-old southern tomb of King Djoser at the pyramid of Saqqara after a 15-year renovation, reports Reuters.

The tomb, south of Cairo, lies near the Third Dynasty pharoah’s famous Step Pyramid, Egypt’s earliest large-scale stone structure, which itself was closed for restoration until March 2020.

The southern tomb, built between 2667 BC and 2648 BC, is thought to have been built for symbolic reasons, or perhaps to hold Djoser’s internal organs, said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities.

Egypt is keen to reinvigorate tourism following the coronavirus pandemic and has unveiled a series of new discoveries and a new museum in recent months.

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