Fac̜ade of the Pavilion of the South at the complex of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, Ṣaqqārah, Egypt

Object Details

See more items in: Eliot Elisofon Field collection; Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Egypt

Archival Repository: Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Collection Citation: Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution

Collection Rights: Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Scope and Contents: "The two 'Pavilions of the South and the North' represent, in the opinion of I.E.S. Edwards, the two national sanctuaries of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt. I would like to see them as the tombs of the predynastic rulers of Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt, the mythical ancestors of every Egyptian king. The kheker frieze, which was used as a method of decoration on the fac̜ades of those two buildings, can be traced back to the reign of Aha, to a small ivory label from Naqqada which depicts a kheker frieze on the top of a small building in which three officials stand." [Zahi Hawass, 2003: The Treasures of the Pyramids. White Star Publishers]. "Saqqâra (Ṣaqqārah) is a large necropolis south of Cairo and west of ancient Memphis. It was the necropolis of ancient Memphis; has remains of several pyramids from 5th and 6th dynasties and the famous Step Pyramid, the earliest true pyramid in Egypt, built for King Zoser (Djoser) of the 3rd dynasty ca. 2630 BC by his prime minister Imhotep. It is not to be confused with the modern town of the same name." [The J. P. Getty Fund: Thesaurus of Geographical Names]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from August 18, 1959 to December 20, 1959.

Collection Restrictions: Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.