The Left entrance would have required a ladder or a rope to get in and out while the Right entrance had stairs.

The main entrance leads straight to the Central Shaft in which Djoser’s Sarcophagus was placed. The R tunnel leads to another tunnel that gradually descends and connects to the galleries connecting to the bottom of the shaft. The L entrance tunnel leads to a vertical shaft that connects to the another set of galleries that are a bit like a maze. The only way out would be through the central shaft to the galleries that connect to the stairs or to climb up the vertical shaft. If the Shaft was full of grain this would not be possible. People who fell down the vertical shaft in the L entrance tunnel would, therefore, be trapped if they survived the fall (unless they had a ladder or a rope).

Tunnels under the Step Pyramid in the Djoser complex at Saqqara, Egypt. The main entrance leads directly to the shaft and would have offered no challenge to grave robbers.

A diagram of the shaft and tunnels under the Step Pyramid of Djoser (Netjerikhet) at Saqqara in Egypt. The Step Pyramid was the first pyramid to be constructed and was designed by Imhotep who was the sage / vizier of Pharaoh Djoser. The central shaft has many similarities to other shafts in the Step Pyramid complex. The main entrance leads directly to the central shaft in which Djoser’s sarcophagus was placed when he died. If this shaft had been previously used to store grain, a means of retrieving grain from the bottom of the shaft would have been necessary. Four such tunnels connect to the bottom of the shaft below the level of a platform on which Djoser’s sarcophagus was placed. These tunnels radiate out of the shaft into a series of blind ending galleries where Djoser’s treasures and mortuary vessels would have been placed. They are connected to the main entrance by a pair of tunnels with stairs. Ventilation would have been poor if the shaft had been used as a grain silo prior to converting it into Djoser’s tomb. Other grain silos in the complex have much better ventilation.

The main entrance leads straight to the Central Shaft in which Djoser’s Sarcophagus was placed. The Right tunnel leads to another tunnel that gradually descends and connects to the galleries connecting to the bottom of the shaft. The Left entrance tunnel leads to a vertical shaft that connects to the another set of galleries that are a bit like a maze. The only way out would be through the central shaft to the galleries on the Right that connect to the stairs or to climb back up the vertical shaft in the Left entrance.  If the central shaft was full of grain it would not be possible to cross through to the Right side from the Left.  People who fell down the vertical shaft in the Left entrance tunnel would, therefore, be trapped if they survived the fall (unless they had a ladder or a rope to climb back up).  This is a scary thought!

Djoser’s sarcophagus was placed on a platform which was above the level of the galleries and tunnels that connected to the bottom of the shaft.  It was therefore possible to cross from L to R through the central shaft underneath Djoser’s sarcophagus when the shaft was being used as a tomb.

The Step Pyramid was built on top of a shaft in which Djoser’s Sarcophagus was placed

The Step Pyramid in Saqqara. Built on top of a shaft that was probably the first grain silo built by Joseph. When Pharaoh Djoser (Netjerikhet) died in the 5th year of the famine, Joseph (Imhotep) made the grain silo into a tomb by encasing it with ornate limestone. Djoser’s sarcophagus was placed on a platform at the bottom of the shaft and then the top of the shaft was sealed with a heavy granite slab. Successive mastabas were built on top of the burial chamber (shaft) resulting in a Stepped Pyramid.

A diagram of the shaft and tunnels under the Step Pyramid of Djoser (Netjerikhet) at Saqqara in Egypt. The Step Pyramid was the first pyramid to be constructed and was designed by Imhotep who was the sage / vizier of Pharaoh Djoser. The central shaft has many similarities to other shafts in the Step Pyramid complex. The main entrance leads directly to the central shaft in which Djoser’s sarcophagus was placed when he died. If this shaft had been previously used to store grain, a means of retrieving grain from the bottom of the shaft would have been necessary. Four such tunnels connect to the bottom of the shaft below the level of a platform on which Djoser’s sarcophagus was placed. These tunnels radiate out of the shaft into a series of blind ending galleries where Djoser’s treasures and mortuary vessels would have been placed. They are connected to the main entrance by a pair of tunnels with stairs. Ventilation would have been poor if the shaft had been used as a grain silo prior to converting it into Djoser’s tomb. Other grain silos in the complex have much better ventilation.

If this shaft had been previously used to store grain, a means of retrieving grain from the bottom of the shaft would have been necessary. Four such tunnels connect to the bottom of the shaft below the level of a platform on which Djoser’s sarcophagus was placed.

Tunnels under the Step Pyramid in the Djoser complex at Saqqara, Egypt. The main entrance leads directly to the shaft and would have offered no challenge to grave robbers.

‘If Joseph and Imhotep were the same person’……Djoser would have died in the 4-5th year of the famine. Joseph would have been responsible for embalming and burying Djoser and constructing his Mastaba.

If Joseph and Imhotep were the same person, what we know about Joseph from the Bible can be combined with what we know about Imhotep from Egyptian historical records to build up a more complete picture of Joseph / Imhotep and his dealings with the Pharaoh in Egypt. Of course, there would have to be considerable overlap between the Biblical and the Egyptian accounts otherwise one would have to question whether or not they were the same person. Information omitted in one source can be can be recovered from the other source if indeed they were the same person. Allowance needs to be made for the reliability and accuracy of the historical documents.

The Famine Stella tells us that Joseph (if he was Imhotep) came to Djoser in the 18th year of his reign. Manetho tells us that Djoser reigned for 29 years. Djoser would, therefore, have died in the 4th or 5th year of the famine when Joseph / Imhotep was his vizier. Joseph / Imhotep would have been responsible for embalming the pharaoh and would have had to bury Djoser after his death and construct his mastaba.

If Joseph and Imhotep were the same person, Joseph would have been appointed as the vizier to Djoser (second in charge of Egypt) in the 18th year of Djoser. In his first seven years, Joseph would have concentrated on building grain silos in key Egyptian cities to store the grain.

Joseph also constructed canals which turned the desert into a fertile oasis (although legend says it was in the later part of his life and it is not clear which pharaoh he served). The ‘Canal of Joseph’, as it is known, irrigates the area known as the Faiyum which is like an oasis in the middle of Egypt quite close to Saqqara where the 3rd dynasty of Djoser was centered.

Location of Saqqara in Egypt

Arab historians not only attributed the canal project to Joseph but reported its circumstances.  It was, historians related, when Joseph was more than 100 years old but still held a high position in the Egyptian court. The other viziers and court officials, envying Joseph, persuaded the Pharaoh that to remain venerated Joseph should not rest on his laurels. He must prove again his abilities. When the Pharaoh agreed, the viziers suggested an impossible project – to convert the desert into a fertile area. “Inspired by God,” Joseph confounded his detractors by succeeding.  He dug feeder canals and created a vast artificial lake in 1000 days. [1]

Deep square pits cut into the bedrock can be found in several key Egyptian cities. Joseph / Imhotep imposed a 20% tax on the grain produced in Egypt. The grain was poured into the these pits (silos) for storage so it could be used in times of famine. A tunnel system allowed access to the bottom of the pits in order to retrieve the grain that had been stored the longest. Joseph / Imhotep developed a progressively more and more elaborate system of pits and tunnels to store and retrieve the grain.

The first grain silo that Joseph constructed at Saqqara was enormous. It was big enough to hold enough grain to cater for the needs of the surrounding cities and more for many years. A complex maze of tunnels allowed access to the bottom of the silo from four different directions underground but there was only one main entrance which was quite steep and ventilation would have been poor.

Newer silos constructed by Imhotep / Joseph were even more elaborate. At Saqqara, within the Step Pyramid complex, a series of eleven pits can be found in a row. These pits all drain in to a common pit which is accessible via stairs in an adjacent pit. Grain was poured into the top of these pits and drained into a common pit. The grain from all of the pits could be retrieved via tunnels that could be entered from a single pit within the Step Pyramid complex.  No wonder people would worship the God of Joseph / Imhotep.  Servants would disappear down some stairs in the Step Pyramid Complex and emerge with a seemingly endless supply of corn while the rest of the world was starving! Interestingly, the columns of the building at the entrance to the Step Pyramid had the shape of a giant cob of corn [2].

The original pit that Joseph built to store grain in became redundant and was superseded.

When Djoser died unexpectedly in the 11th year of Joseph / Imhotep’s service, it was Joseph / Imhotep who was responsible for embalming the Pharaoh and building his tomb.

What better place to bury Djoser than in the bottom of the first grain silo that he had used to save Egypt from famine.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The burial chamber of Djoser is a huge shaft that is situated under the Step Pyramid. The shaft has the same dimensions as the grain silos in other parts of the complex. It had a complex series of tunnels connecting to the bottom of the shaft at four points (North South East and West). If the tunnels were used to deter grave robbers, they would not have achieved their purpose as they all lead to the burial chamber. There was one common entrance which divided into four sections of underground tunnels that all lead to the burial chamber. The tunnels were narrow and steep and ventilation would have been poor. They were no doubt created to allow access to the bottom of the central pit under the Step Pyramid.

When Pharaoh Djoser died unexpectedly, Imhotep (Joseph) needed a place to bury the pharaoh and decided to bury him in the first grain silo that had enabled Imhotep to save the Egyptians from famine, making the Pharaoh rich and enabling him to acquire all the land of Egypt except that of the Priests.

When it was time to bury Djoser, the silo was lined (or cased) with beautifully adorned limestone blocks. Large slabs of granite were lowered into the silo to construct a sarcophagus for Djoser, into which, the coffin and mummy of Djoser was placed. A massive slab of granite was used to seal the top of the central pit. Joseph / Imhotep then constructed a mastaba on top of the burial chamber. The mastaba of Djoser was the first to be constructed out of solid limestone blocks. Prior to Djoser, mastabas were made out of mud bricks.

As subsequent members of Djoser’s family died, the limestone masaba was extended, first horizontally and then upwards with successive mastabas stacked on top of one another. The result was the Step Pyramid (The first pyramid to be built in Egypt). The largest building of it’s time. Made out of solid limestone blocks and finally faced with nicely cut limestone.

As a result of erosion, pilfering and earthquakes, the outer facing has largely fallen away over the centuries revealing the inner core of mastabas stacked on top of one another to bury Djoser himself in the central shaft beneath the pyramid, and his three wives and 11 daughters in the multiple extensions of the original mastaba above Djoser’s burial chamber.

In approximately 500BC, the limestone casing lining the central shaft under the pyramid caved in crushing the Sarcophagus of Djoser at the bottom of the shaft.

It was only in recent years that the rubble could be removed without damaging the tomb or causing it to cave in.

Unfortunately, when the sarcophagus was opened, all that remained of pharaoh Djoser’s mummy was one of his feet. Grave robbers had been there first. The tunnels that lead to the bottom of the burial chamber went right under Djoser’s sarcophagus. These tunnels, rather than deter grave robbers, lead them straight to Djoser’s sarcophagus.

If Joseph and Imhotep were the same person, Joseph would have constructed the Step Pyramid to bury Djoser and his family after the famine. The burial chamber of Djoser would have been used as a grain storage silo first and then converted to a burial chamber for Djoser on top of which the Step Pyramid was constructed in stages to bury the rest of Djoser’s family!

Pharaoh Djoser’s (Netjerikhet’s) sarcophagus was placed a the bottom of a central shaft by Imhotep who then built a series of limestone mastabas which were stacked on top of one another to form the Step Pyramid.

Could the central shaft have been the first grain silo that Imhotep built for the Pharaoh?

It differed from other pits used to store grain in that it was lined or cased with large decorated limestone blocks.

The limestone casing and roof of the burial chamber eventually collapsed and crushed Djoser’s sarcophagus.

(It was around 500BC when it collapsed but it was not until 2007 that the rubble could be cleared by a team lead by Dr Zahi Hawass.)

Did Imhotep bury the Pharaoh in one of the shafts that he originally made to store grain?

Pharaoh Djoser (Netjerikhet)

This central shaft became the burial chamber for the Pharaoh Djoser (Netjerikhet)

Imhotep in heiroglyphics

11 of Djosers daughters were also buried in the Step Pyramid which is just a series of mastabas stacked on top of one another.

The Step Pyramid was built in stages. At first, just one mustaba sat on top of the central shaft in which the Pharaoh was buried. More mastabas were added next to and on top of the previous ones.

The Step Pyramid was constructed on top of the central shaft after the Pharaoh was buried in it.

The central shaft had similar dimensions to other shafts used to store grain

Imhotep

Could the central shaft have been the first grain silo that Imhotep built for the Pharaoh?

Was Djoser buried in the first grain silo built by Imhotep?

Imhotep

The central shaft was the burial chamber for the Pharaoh

Statue of ?Djoser with Imhotep’s name and titles inscribed on it.

The Sarcophagus of Pharaoh Djoser was at the bottom of the central shaft.

A computer generated reconstruction of a mudbrick mastaba that was used as a burial chamber for the first dynasty pharaohs.

Dr. Zahi Hawass

Imhotep designed false passageways and blind ending tunnels to throw off grave robbers.

The Sarcophagus of Pharaoh Djoser was at the bottom of the central shaft.

The remains of a mudbrick Mastaba situated about one kilometer from the Step Pyramid at Saqqara

The central shaft was built first, Was it originally made to sore grain?

The Step Pyramid was built on top of a shaft similar to the other shafts in the complex used to store grain

The entrance to the burial chamber

Did Imhotep bury the Pharaoh in a grain silo and then construct the Step Pyramid on top of it?

There are 3.5 miles of tunnels under the Step Pyramid

The central shaft was lined with large limestone blocks which eventually collapsed falling onto and smashing the sarcophagus (about 500yrs BC).

Was the Burial Chamber originally a grain silo?

The main tunnel leading to the burial chamber

Imhotep lowered the Sarcophagus of the Pharaoh into the central shaft and then sealed the top of the shaft and built a mastaba on top of it. Then he added more mastabas for the rest of Djoser’s family.

The Step Pyramid was built on top of a Shaft in which the Pharaoh was buried. Was this shaft originally used to store grain or was it made for this purpose?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The shaft was cased with large limestone blocks and the top was sealed.  A limestone mastaba was constructed over it.  Successive layers were then added to the mastaba to bury the rest of Djoser’s family.  The final result was the Step pyramid.

In about 500BC the limestone casing in the shaft collapsed, crushing Djoser’s sarcophagus.   It was only in recent times that the rubble in the tomb has been cleared and the tomb inspected.

The shaft would have had to have been constructed before the pyramid was constructed.  

This means that Djoser must have died and been placed in the shaft before the construction of the Step Pyramid.   The famine occurred during Djoser’s life time as did the seven years of plenty.  Maybe the shaft was originally used to store grain and later was lined with limestone and used as a burial chamber.  A limestone mastaba was contructed on top of the burial chamber and then successive mustabas were added to bury Djoser’s 11 daughters and three wives.  The original mastaba was extended horizontally and then vertically (stacking one upon another) resulting in a Step Pyramid which was then faced with nicely cut limestone (which has fallen down over the centuries).