The famous step pyramid of Djoser, a pharaoh of the Third Dynasty who lived in the 27th century BC, recently underwent a 14-year, $6.6 million renovation. Egypt’s oldest pyramid, located in the Saqqara necropolis of ancient Memphis, had been badly damaged by an earthquake in 1992, and was at risk of collapsing. The pyramid itself consists of six mastabas (rectangular structures), which rise to a height of 60 meters. Workers filled in gaps in the mastabas with replica blocks to reinforce it, and renovated the interior passages and the burial chamber. Egypt is now allowing tourists to enter the pyramid using the southern entrance. The 4700-year old pyramid was designed by Imhotep, the vizier of the pharaoh Djoser. Some have mistakenly identified Imhotep with Joseph, given the fact that they had similar roles and that both dealt with famines in their days. However, Imhotep lived almost 800 years before Joseph and, while the former was an architect, the latter served in more of an accounting role.
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