Editing Saqqara (section)

===Early Dynastic===
[[File:Saqqara map.jpg|thumb|Map of the site]]
[[File:Egypt.Saqqara.Panorama.01.jpg|thumb|View of Saqqara necropolis, including [[Djoser]]'s [[Pyramid of Djoser|step pyramid]] (centre), the [[Pyramid of Unas]] (left) and the [[Pyramid of Userkaf]] (right)]]
[[File:Oralfixation.jpg|thumb|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/the-mastaba-of-ptahhetep-and-akhethetep-at-saqqareh-ix/page/n127/mode/2up?view=theater | title=The Mastaba of Ptahhetep and Akhethetep at Saqqareh IX | date=1900 }}</ref>]]

{{nowrap|The earliest burials}} of nobles can be traced back to the [[First dynasty of Egypt|First Dynasty]], at the northern side of the Saqqara plateau. During this time, the royal burial ground was at [[Abydos, Egypt|Abydos]]. The first royal burials at Saqqara, comprising underground galleries, date to the early [[Second dynasty of Egypt|Second Dynasty]] reigns of [[Hotepsekhemwy]], [[Raneb]] and [[Nynetjer]]. This is followed by a hiatus, with [[Seth-Peribsen]] and [[Khasekhemwy]], the last Second Dynasty king, both buried in Abydos. Khasekhemwy may nonetheless also have built a funerary monument at Saqqara consisting of a large rectangular enclosure, known as [[Gisr el-Mudir]], although this enclosure could also belong to Nynetjer. It probably inspired the monumental enclosure wall around the Step Pyramid complex. Djoser's funerary complex, built by the royal architect [[Imhotep]], further comprises a large number of dummy buildings and a secondary mastaba (the so-called 'Southern Tomb'). French architect and Egyptologist [[Jean-Philippe Lauer]] spent the greater part of his life excavating and restoring Djoser's funerary complex.

====Early Dynastic monuments====
* Tomb of king Hotepsekhemwy and Raneb
* [[Nynetjer#Tomb|Tomb of king Nynetjer]]
* [[Buried Pyramid]], funerary complex of king [[Sekhemkhet]]
* [[Gisr el-Mudir]], funerary complex of a Second Dynasty king, possibly Nynetjer or Khasekhemwy
* [[Pyramid of Djoser|Step Pyramid]], funerary complex of king [[Djoser]]
[[File:Saqqara BW 1.jpg|thumb|right|Funerary complex of Djoser]]