Cairo,
EGYPT
Egypt on
Thursday reopened Djoser's Step Pyramid, the first pyramid ever built, after a
14-year restoration costing nearly $6.6 million.
The pyramid,
a UNESCO world heritage site, was constructed 4700 years ago during the era of
Pharaoh Djoser, one of Ancient Egypt's Third Dynasty kings.
After
decades of neglect and the risk of collapse, the Egyptian government started an
ambitious project to restore it to splendour in 2006.
"Today
we celebrate the completion of the project of warding off the danger and
maintaining and restoring the first and oldest remaining pyramid in
Egypt," said tourism and antiquities minister Khaled al-Anani.
The
structure was designed by Imhotep, described by some as the world's first
architect.
"We are
in awe as to how he was able to create this structure, which has remained
standing for 4,700 years," said Anani.
Restoration
work stopped in 2011 after Egypt's popular uprising that toppled long-time
President Hosni Mubark, but resumed at the end of 2013.
Djoser's
Step Pyramid, the first large-scale stone construction in history and the
largest pyramidal funerary complex, is located at Saqqara archaeological site,
west of Cairo.
The
60-metre-high pyramid consists of six stacked steps over a burial shaft tomb
which is 28 metres deep and seven metres wide.
Speaking
alongside the pyramid, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said Egypt was
engaged in many large-scale projects, and the restoration of its heritage was
one of them.
"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,"
he added.
The project
saw efforts to prevent the pyramid from collapsing, and external and internal
restoration work, including of the paths leading to the pyramid and the
internal corridors leading to the burial chamber.
Experts also
restored the sarcophagus of King Djoser within the pyramid and the walls of the
burial shaft tomb. - Africa
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