What's Hot?
From Peace To Nollywood: Towards The Next 30...
Three Decades Of Nollywood: Scholars, Literary Enthusiasts Hail...
Tems Wins First-ever Grammy, As Burna Boy Loses...
Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over...
Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts...
International tourist arrivals doubled in 2022: UN
Amoako Boafo’s Launch of Ghana Residency Was a...
Morocco: National Finery Museum Reopens to Critical Aclaim
Five years after, Lagos Inaugurates Randle Centre for...
The future of global music is African
The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
Culture Africana

Egypt’s Oldest Pyramid Reopens to Public After 14-Year Hiatus

by The Culture Newspaper March 18, 2020
by The Culture Newspaper March 18, 2020

Some 4,700 years ago, a man named Imhotep decided to chase after an especially lofty goal. Tasked with designing the elaborate tomb that would house his pharaoh, Djoser, the architect decided to construct a vast, space-swallowing structure unlike anything ever seen before—a shape that would extend not just out, but up.

The result—a staggering edifice composed of six stepwise layers that stand more than 200 feet tall—became Egypt’s first known colossal stone building and remains the oldest pyramid still standing today. Now, after the completion of a 14-year, nearly $6.6 million restoration project, Djoser’s final resting place has reopened to the public.

“We are in awe as to how [Imhotep] was able to create this structure, which has remained standing for 4,700 years,” Khaled al-Anany, Egypt’s Minister of Antiquities and Tourism, said at a press conference last week, as quoted by Reuters.

Assembled between 2630 and 2611 B.C. in Saqqara, Egypt, the pyramid, where Djoser and 11 of his daughters were buried upon their deaths, contains roughly 11.6 million cubic feet of stone and clay. Looping through and around the burial chambers is a winding, maze-like network of tunnels that was likely designed to prevent theft but apparently weakened the building’s structural integrity, according to Atlas Obscura. By the time the 21st century rolled around, officials feared that the pyramid—battered by millennia of winds and natural disasters, including a 1992 earthquake—was on the verge of collapse.

Workers began renovating the pyramid in 2006, pausing briefly from 2011 to 2013 after an uprising ousted former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak. Work within the ancient structure proved difficult: To prevent the stone walls from crumbling inward, engineers inflated airbags that propped up the roofs of its six stacked terraces. Controversial claims that restoration work was exacerbating, rather than undoing, damage to the pyramid also threatened the project, reports James Pasley for Business Insider.

But as officials unveiled the pyramid last Thursday, all appeared to be well. Though not entirely restored to its former glory, the structure once again boasts stable ceilings and walkable corridors. The restoration also added a handful of modern perks, including a new lighting system and an entry accessible to people with disabilities. Visitors have already eagerly reentered the monument to explore its three miles of labyrinthine passages.

“We are working hard to build a new Egypt, … and the restoration of our heritage is at the top of our priorities,” Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said at a press conference last week, as reported by Business Insider.

He added, “Although of course we are very proud that this is an Egyptian legacy, we also know very well it is world and global heritage that we are very keen to maintain.”

Source: smithsonianmag.com/

0
FacebookTwitterPinterestLinkedinWhatsappEmail
The Culture Newspaper

previous post
COVID-19: DIFF, DFM not postponed yet – Organisers
next post
I smoked with Asa…and got the best story of my career (Part 2)

You may also like

Amoako Boafo’s Launch of Ghana Residency Was a...

February 3, 2023

Back to roots: Why African Americans are flocking...

January 19, 2023

Egypt: ‘Kira Wal Gin’ Named As Highest Grossing...

January 12, 2023

Teranga Edition: Organisers Unveil Events Programme As Eight...

January 7, 2023

These Are the African Films That Missed Out...

December 31, 2022

Senegal: Omar Sy presents new film about African...

December 31, 2022

Africa’s biggest photography library opens in Ghana

December 21, 2022

Red Sea Film Festival Chiefs Talk Taking Saudi...

December 4, 2022

Asake, the breakout pop star from Nigeria who...

November 29, 2022

Chance the Rapper And Vic Mensa Announce Free...

November 23, 2022

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

  • From Peace To Nollywood: Towards The Next 30 Years
  • Three Decades Of Nollywood: Scholars, Literary Enthusiasts Hail Ayorinde’s Book
  • Tems Wins First-ever Grammy, As Burna Boy Loses In Two Categories
  • Court Orders Oxlade To Pay ₦5m Indemnity Over Leaked Sex Tape
  • Artists gearing up for the Harlem fine arts show 15th anniversary

Sponsored

Recent Posts

  • From Peace To Nollywood: Towards The Next 30 Years

    February 9, 2023
  • Three Decades Of Nollywood: Scholars, Literary Enthusiasts Hail Ayorinde’s Book

    February 9, 2023
  • Tems Wins First-ever Grammy, As Burna Boy Loses In Two Categories

    February 6, 2023

Categories

  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
  • Culture Africana
  • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Music, Movies & More
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Photo News
  • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Interview
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality
  • Travel News
  • Travel Trends
  • Travelogue
  • What's Hot?
  • World Culture

Connect with us

Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • About Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

@2019 - The Culture Newspaper. All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Zero-One

The Culture Newspaper
  • Home
  • Arts & Exhibitions
  • Culture & Festivals
    • Culture Africana
    • Culture People
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Music, Movies & More
  • News
    • Travel News
  • Opinion
    • Reviews (The Critics)
  • TCN Literati
  • Tourism & Hospitality