Mortuary Temple & Serdab

Plan of the Mortuary Temple

View of the Mortuary Temple from the Northwest

Unlike later examples, which were invariably found on the east side of the pyramid, the Djoser’s Mortuary Temple was built up against the north side. The area was badly disturbed by later activity, mainly tomb-robbing of both the official and unofficial variety. There is little left apart from the bare layout of the rooms, corridors and open courtyards. There are a pair of the latter and presumably shrines representing Upper and Lower Egypt, to provide offerings for the divine pharaoh, but the plans bear little resemblance to well-known examples from later times.


Beside the mortuary temple and built up against the side of the pyramid was a small enclosure, entered by way of stone gates left permanently open. At the rear of this tiny courtyard was a sealed room known as the serdab (the Arabic word for ‘cellar’). Inside was a beautifully painted limestone statue of Djoser sitting on his throne. He is wearing his long heb-sed robe, which envelopes him from the shoulders to his ankles. On his head he wore a heavy black wig covered by the nemes headcloth so characteristic of pharaohs. The purpose of this totally enclosed statue chamber was to allow the ka of the deceased to rise up and view the rituals and sacrifices made in his honour. To further this purpose, two holes were bored through the outer wall of the serdab at eye level.

Overhead View of the Serdab and the Seated Statue of Djoser

Serdab containing Djoser's Statue