As Egypt entered the Old Kingdom, burial structures reached a never-before-seen level of extravagance. Some evidence suggests pyramid-like structures date back as early as the 2nd Dynasty, but the oldest known Egyptian pyramid – and indeed the oldest monumental stone structure – is considered to be the Step Pyramid of 3rd Dynasty pharaoh, Djoser.

Located in Saqqara, the building itself was constructed in six stages. First, a small, square mastaba was built (M1). Then, two expansions of this mastaba (M2 and M3) all but enveloped the first structure, and included both a burial chamber and burial shafts. Over three separate stages, the upper levels were added (P1, P2, and P3), giving it its distinctive step-pyramid shape. The finished structure is surrounded by temples and some smaller pyramids.

During the pyramid’s extensive restorations in the 2000s and 2010s, Djoser’s burial chamber was uncovered from sand and rubble, revealing his empty sarcophagus. This process also discovered that ancient Egyptians from later time periods revisited the pyramid, restored it themselves, and even buried some of their dead there.

According to many sources, the Step Pyramid of Djoser was the brainchild of Imhotep. Unlike his depiction in 1999’s The Mummy, he was an architect as well as being a high priest of the sun god Ra, and a vizier, or the highest-ranked official under the pharaoh. More information on Imhotep can be found in the Pharaohs & Figures timeline.