Categories
Egyptian Artifacts

Faience Tiles from Djoser’s Step Pyramid


Djoser 𓂦 was the first pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 of the 3rd Dynasty, and his Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 was the first large stone structure in Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–. Designed by the architect Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ, who was later deified, the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 was meant to provide the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 with a large funerary complex and a home for eternity π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›.

These blue faience tiles decorated the lower levels of Djoser’s 𓂦 Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 Complex. There were over 30,000 tiles used!!! The tiles were meant to represent various types of reeds that covered the walls of Djoser’s 𓂦 palace.

I have always been obsessed with anything having to do with the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 solely because of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ. My Nonno always spoke more about Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ than Djoser 𓂦! My Nonno always pointed these tiles out to me in the museum. While to most people, the tiles look somewhat insignificant compared to beautifully carved reliefs and statues, my Nonno always said that these types of tiles were important because they were really only found in the Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴 and one of Djoser’s 𓂦 other buildings at Saqqara. The tiles were pretty much a β€œuniquely Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ” thing according to Nonno!