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Reprint. Special Description Note- This is not a print on demand edition. Care has been taken to enhance and improve the original text whenever possible. Martino Publishing follows the standards of traditional printing and quality is a primary concern. We distinguish ourselves from Print on Demand by our quality controls, paper quality and binding quality. Large Quarto. Two Volumes Bound In One. 2 V. Col. Front., Illus., 110 (I. E. 113) Pl. (Part Double; Incl. Plans). Le Caire, Impr.De l'Institut Français D'archéologie Orientale; 1935 Saqqara, or Sakkara, is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, featuring the world's oldest standing step pyramid. It is located some 30 km south of modern-day Cairo and covers an area of around 7 km by 1.5 km. While Memphis was the capital of Ancient Egypt, Saqqara served as its necropolis. Although it was eclipsed as the burial ground of royalty by Giza and later by the Valley of the Kings in Thebes, it remained an important complex for minor burials and cult ceremonies for more than 3,000 years, well into Ptolemaic and Roman times. The step pyramid at Saqqara was designed by Imhotep for King Djoser (c.2667-2648 BC). It is the oldest complete hewn-stone building complex knownin history. It is also the location of the newly opened (in 2006) Imhotep Museum. Although the earliest burials of nobles at Saqqara can be traced back to the First Dynasty, it was not until the Second Dynasty that the first kings were buried there, including Hotepsekhemwy and Nynetjer. The most striking feature of the necropolis, however is the Step Pyramid of the Pharaoh Djoser, which dates from the Third Dynasty. In addition to Djoser's, there are another 16 pyramids on the site, in various states of preservation or dilapidation. Firth's rare work is still a standard work on the subject.