Virtually the entire western side of the site is taken up by three long structures, two flat-topped ones flanking a central vaulted one, covering an elaborate network of underground galleries. The layout of the latter very much resembles the subterranean tombs of the Second Dynasty pharaohs, Hotepsekhemwy and Nynetjer found just to the north of the enclosure and there is a very strong suspicion that this might be another one. However, although a large number of stone vessels were recovered here, there is a dearth of inscribed material
THE AFTERMATH
Djoser's son and successor Sekhemkhet built a similar complex at Saqqara and there is evidence of at least two others to the west. Another member of Djoser's dynasty, Khaba, may have started the so-called ‘Layer Pyramid’ at Giza but with the rise to power of the Fourth Dynasty the stepped form gave way to the ‘true’ pyramid.
The practice of building on a monumental scale became standard among the pharaohs who succeeded Djoser and reached its apogee in the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. The political benefits of such projects were obvious. “Idle hands are the devil’s tools.” and the pharaohs were well aware of the dangers of hundreds of thousands of farmers with time on their hands while the Nile was in flood. Not only did the pyramid project keep them busy but it also put them on the state payroll making them more dependent on the central government.
The logistical problems in a project of this scale were unprecedented. Thousands of people needed to be housed and fed. Material and supplies had to be moved from all over Egypt to the building site. The creation of a class of men who could handle such problems gave Egypt the managerial resources to take on any large and complex project— invading another country, for example, or putting together a large trading expedition. In addition, thanks to Imhotep, Egypt had a large pool of highly skilled artists and artisans— stone masons, sculptors, draughtsmen and painters.
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