Saqqara and Dr. Zahi Hawass

We drive south of Cairo along the west bank of the Nile River to Saqqara. The route follows an irrigation canal through agricultural areas.

Saqqara is best known for the step pyramid. Arriving it is instantly obvious the site is so much more than the step pyramid. Excavations are occurring over a wide area. There are multiple pyramids. They will be excavating here through eternity. I wouldn't be surprised if 50 or a hundred years from now, Saqqara looks and is the size of Pompeii.

Since the opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum has been delayed again, Lindblad National Geographic has a special event for us. We are meeting Dr. Zahi Hawass at one of his excavation sites. He has been Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities twice. He lectures around the world.

Excavations are occurring in real time on a piece of land until recently housing people of the village. They were relocated by eminent domain when Dr. Hawass suspected this was an important site. He was correct.

Dr. Zahi Hawass is a character and regales us with stories of his discoveries, and his myth busting through science and discovery. Here we're seen with him in his storage shed of recently uncovered mummy-filled coffins.

This is the Saqqara plain with a large pyramid in the foreground and the step pyramid in the background.

We visit the burial chambers or mastaba of Mereruka. He was second only to the king and the Grand Visir. The mastaba is for his entire family and contains 32 rooms. 

Carol sits this one out remaining in the comfort of the airconditioned bus while the rest of us drop down to the mastaba or tomb. 

We depart the area with a good look at the Step Pyramid of Djoser.  The pyramid built for Pharaoh Djoser around 2670 BC is the oldest stone structure known and the first pyramid in Egypt.

We return to Cairo along the irrigation canal of the Nile River.