Naked History – Unearthed
Mystery of Egypt's First Pyramid
Published: 8 June 2026 at 00:00 Europe/London
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Episode notes
Saqqara – a royal necropolis near Cairo, that’s been burying ancient Egypt’s ruling dynasties for centuries. It’s the site of the first-ever pyramid – the Step Pyramid of Djoser, one of the rulers of the Old Kingdom.
But why did Egyptians start erecting pyramids? How did they build in stone, with such limited technology and resources? What happened to Djoser’s body after his death? And what can possibly explain intriguing discoveries elsewhere at Saqqara; of commoners buried in a manner fit for a pharaoh – and the remains of mummified animals, evidence of a strange cult of bull-worship?
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