Editing Pyramid of Djoser (section)

== Step pyramid ==
{{Comparison_of_pyramids.svg|dz}}
The crowning feature of the complex is the Step Pyramid which rises from the Saqqara plateau in six steps{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=84}}{{sfn|Edwards|1993|p=34}} to a height between {{cvt|60|m|ft+royal cubit}}{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=73}} and {{cvt|62.5|m|ft+royal cubit}}.{{sfn|Verner|2001d|p=461}} This element was revised repeatedly in construction, going through a series of developmental phases that culminated in its step pyramidal form.{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=84}}{{sfn|Verner|2001d|p=114}} These phases are traditionally labelled, following Jean-Philippe Lauer's excavations: M1, M2, M3, P1, P1', and P2.{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=84}}{{sfn|Verner|2001d|pp=110 & 114}}{{efn|There is direct evidence for some of these stages, though others remain hypothetical in nature as confirming or disproving them would require dismantling the pyramid.{{sfn|Edwards|1993|p=35}}}}

In the early stages (M1 to M3) the structure had the form of a mastaba before alterations (P1 to P2) were made to create its step pyramidal form.{{sfn|Verner|2001d|pp=114–115}} In the first stage (M1), the mastaba had a square plan {{cvt|63|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} in length that rose to a height of {{cvt|8.4|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}.{{sfn|Verner|2001d|p=461}}{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=69}} This was built from a core of limestone blocks arranged in horizontal beds and bound with yellow or red clay. A {{cvt|2.6|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} thick casing of fine white Tura limestone was applied to the core arranged in the same horizontal manner. The outer blocks were inclined to ~82° and the top of the mastaba likely had a slightly convex shape.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=69}} A second casing of fine white limestone was applied to this which increased the mastaba's base length to {{cvt|71.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} square (M2). The casing was {{cvt|4.2|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} thick at the base and {{cvt|3.4|m|ft+royal cubit}} thick at the peak and was about {{cvt|0.525|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} lower than the initial mastaba height. The outer blocks of this second coat also had a steeper incline at ~76°.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=70}}{{sfn|Edwards|1993|pp=35–36}} The mastaba was then extended {{cvt|8.4|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} east to cover a series of eleven shafts {{cvt|33|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} deep that ended in passages that led west to the burial chambers of members of Djoser's family.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=71}}{{sfn|Edwards|1993|pp=38–39, fig. 7:7}} This extension was built from locally sourced limestone rubble and cased by {{cvt|1.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} thick limestone coating that formed an extension of M2.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|pp=71–72}} The mastaba had a new, rectangular ground plan {{cvt|71.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} by {{cvt|79.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}. At this stage the mastaba still peaked at {{cvt|8.4|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} in height, too short to be seen from outside the {{cvt|10.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} high enclosure wall.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=72}}

Egyptologists are split on the motivations behind the conception of the pyramidal form that the mastaba was converted into.{{sfn|Verner|2001d|pp=116–117}} Lauer believed that the alteration was made to have the tomb visible from Memphis.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=72}}{{sfn|Verner|2001d|p=116}} The fact of the mastaba's square plan led Rainer Stadelmann, however, to suggest that it was never the intended final form and that it was planned to be a pyramid from the outset.{{sfn|Verner|2001d|p=117}} The conversion (P1) encased the mastaba (M3) extending its length by {{cvt|5.76|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} on each axis giving it a base length of {{cvt|85.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} by {{cvt|77|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=73}}{{sfn|Edwards|1993|p=36}} The alteration from mastaba to pyramid came with a shift in construction.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=73}} The builders used larger and better quality, roughly dressed limestone blocks – but instead of horizontal beds, they built successive inclined accretion layers {{cvt|2-3|m|ft}} thick.{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=84}}{{sfn|Lauer|1962|pp=73–74}} These leaned on each other from opposite ends providing greater stability preventing a collapse.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|pp=73–74}} The whole was then cased in fine white limestone with a layer of packing in between.{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=84}} This phase of the pyramid had four steps that rose to a height of {{cvt|42|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}.{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=73}} The decision was then made to expand the pyramid north and west from four to six steps (P1') which was then finished with a final layer of limestone casing (P2) that gave the pyramid its final form. On completion the step pyramid had a base length of {{cvt|109|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} by {{cvt|121|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} that rose to a height of {{cvt|60-62.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} and occupied a volume of {{cvt|330,400|m3|ft3}}.{{sfn|Verner|2001d|p=461}}{{sfn|Lauer|1962|p=73}}{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=16}}

Much of the rock for the pyramid was likely quarried from the construction of the great trench.<ref name="Dick Parry 2004">Dick Parry, ''Engineering the Pyramids'' (Phoenix: Sutton Publishing Limited, 2004), 14</ref> It is widely accepted that ramps would have been used to raise heavy stone to construct the pyramid, and many plausible models have been suggested.<ref>[[Dieter Arnold]], ''Building in Egypt, Pharaonic Stone Masonry'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991), 79–101.</ref> For transport, apparatuses like rollers were used in which the heavy stone could be placed and then rolled.<ref name="Martin Isler 2001"/>

{| width="100%" class="wikitable"
|+ Developmental phases of Djoser's step pyramid{{sfnm|Lauer|1962|1pp=69–74|Edwards|1993|2pp=35–36|Verner|2001d|3p=461|Lehner|2008|4p=17}}
!
! Mastaba M1 !! Mastaba M2 !! Mastaba M3 !! Pyramid P1 !! Pyramid P1' !! Pyramid P2
|- align="center"
|
| [[File:Djoser-Mastaba-M1.png|80px]] || [[File:Djoser-Mastaba-M2.png|80px]] || [[File:Djoser-Mastaba-M3.png|80px]] || [[File:Djoser-Pyramide-P1.png|80px]] || [[File:Djoser-Pyramide-P1'.png|80px]] || [[File:Djoser-Pyramide-P2.png|80px]]
|- align="center"
|'''Base dimensions'''
| {{cvt|63|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|71.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|71.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}<br>{{cvt|79.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|77|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}<br>{{cvt|85.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|108|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}<br>{{cvt|120|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|109|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}<br>{{cvt|121|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}
|- align="center"
|'''Height'''
| {{cvt|8.4|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|8.4|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}<br>~{{cvt|7.9|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|8.4|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}<br>~{{cvt|7.9|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}<br>~{{cvt|6.3|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|42|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|60|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} <br>to<br> {{cvt|62.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} || {{cvt|60|m|ft+royal cubit|0}} <br>to<br> {{cvt|62.5|m|ft+royal cubit|0}}
|- align="center"
|'''Masonry blocks'''
|| {{cvt|0.3|m|ft}} || {{cvt|0.3|m|ft}} || {{cvt|0.3|m|ft}} || {{cvt|0.38|m|ft}} || {{cvt|0.38|m|ft}} || {{cvt|0.5|m|ft}} <br>to<br> {{cvt|0.52|m|ft}}
|- align="center"
|'''Volume'''
|| || || || || || {{cvt|330,400|m3|ft3}}
|- align="center"
|'''Method of construction'''
|Horizontal beds || Horizontal beds || Horizontal beds || Inclined layers || Inclined layers || Inclined layers
|- align="center"
|'''Number of steps'''
| – || – || – || 4 || 6 || 6
|}