Entitled: "Pyramide de Sakkarah". The Pyramid of Djoser (or Zoser), or step pyramid (kbhw-ntrw in Egyptian) is an archeological remain in the Saqqara necropolis, Egypt, northwest of the city of Memphis. It was built during the 27th century BC for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by Imhotep, his vizier. It is the central feature of a vast mortuary complex in an enormous courtyard surrounded by ceremonial structures and decoration. Djoser was the first or second king of the 3rd Dynasty (2667 to 2648 BC) of the Egyptian Old Kingdom (2686 to 2125 BC). Djoser's step pyramid sets several important precedents, perhaps the most important of which is its status as the first monumental structure made of stone. The process of building such a structure would be far more labor intensive than previous monuments of mud-brick. From this point on, kings of the Old Kingdom are buried in the North, rather than at Abydos. The step pyramid sets the stage for later pyramids of the 4th, 5th, and 6th Dynasties, including the great pyramids at Giza. The architect Imhotep is credited with the design and construction of the complex. Photographed by Maison Bonfils, circa 1867 and 1899.