Egypt reopens its oldest pyramid after 14-year restoration – in pictures

Costs for the restoration of the 4,700-year-old structure total nearly Dh24 million

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  Tourists take pictures at the archaeological site of the Step Pyramind, located in the Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

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  A journalist tours inside the Step Pyramid of Djoser in Egypt's Saqqara necropolis. The pyramid was constructed 4700 years ago during the era of Pharaoh Djoser, one of Ancient Egypt’s Third Dynasty kings. AFP

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  A tourist takes picture inside Djoser’s Step Pyramid. On Thursday, Egypt reopened the pyramid after a 14-year restoration that cost nearly $6.6 million. AFP

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  Tourists visit the Burial and Sarcophagus Chamber inside King Djoser's Step Pyramid. EPA

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  Inside the Burial Chamber and the Sarcophagus inside King Djoser's Step Pyramid. The chamber is 28 metres deep and seven metres wide. EPA

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  Djoser statue inside the pyramid. AFP

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  A woman tours inside the Step Pyramid in Egypt's Saqqara necropolis. AFP

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  A tourist climbs the Step Pyramid. The restoration project, which began in 2006, included renovation of the pyramid exteriors and pathways. AFP

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  Exterior view of the pyramid, which constructed 4700 years ago. The Step Pyramid has four sides and six tiers which rise up to 62 metres. AFP

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  Tourists visit Saqqara necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Giza, Egypt. EPA

Egypt’s Pyramid of Djoser or Step Pyramid – the country’s oldest  – reopened on Thursday after a 14-year restoration.

Built 4,700 years ago, the Step Pyramid was constructed for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser, one of Egypt’s Third Dynasty Kings. In 1992, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake damaged the structure, after which it suffered decades of neglect and possible collapse.

The Egyptian government began a restoration project in 2006, which has cost nearly $6.6 million (Dh24.4 million). The Arab Spring in 2011 paused restoration efforts, though these were resumed in 2013.

Designed by Djoser’s vizier Imhotep, the pyramid has six tiers that rise up to 62 metres. Inside is the pharaoh’s tomb, housed inside a burial chamber that is 28 metres deep and seven metres wide.

Restoration was completed for the pyramid’s exteriors and interiors, including the paths towards the entrance and the corridors leading to the burial chamber.

Djoser’s sarcophagus and the walls of the burial shaft have also been restored by experts.

The Step Pyramid is located in Egypt’s Saqqara necropolis, which served as the burial ground for the Ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis, a Unesco World Heritage Site.