Origins & Early Life

Djoser (also read as Zoser) was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 3rd Dynasty during the Old Kingdom, and was the founder of that epoch. He is also known by his Hellenized names Tosorthros (from Manetho) and Sesorthos (from Eusebius). He was the son of King Khasekhemwy and Queen Nimaathap, but whether he was also the direct successor to their throne is unclear. Most Ramesside king lists identify a king named Nebka as preceding him, but there are difficulties in connecting that name with contemporary Horus names, so some Egyptologists question the received throne sequence.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Djoser is known for his step pyramid, which is the earliest colossal stone building in ancient Egypt. The painted limestone statue of Djoser, now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, is the oldest known life-sized Egyptian statue. Today, at the site in Saqqara where it was found, a plaster copy of it stands in place of the original. The statue was discovered during the Antiquities Service Excavations of 1924–1925. In contemporary inscriptions, he is called by his Horus name Netjerikhet, meaning "divine of body".

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Later sources, which include a New Kingdom reference to his construction and the Ptolemaic...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Imhotep — Contemporary (Born in -2800) (-2800): Ancient Egyptian polymath, architect, and physician who was later deified as a god.
• Khasekhemwy — Contemporary (Born in -2800) (-2800): Last Pharaoh of the Second Dynasty of Egypt, known for reunification and monumental building.
• Khufu — Contemporary (Born in -2700) (-2700): Fourth Dynasty pharaoh, best known for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza.
• Sneferu — Contemporary (Born in -2700) (-2700): Founder of the Fourth Dynasty and master pyramid builder of ancient Egypt.
• Anatole France — Historical peer (Died in 1924) (1924): Master French writer, poet, and journalist celebrated for irony and style.
• Antony Hewish — Historical peer (Born in 1924) (1924): Pioneering radio astronomer, celebrated for the discovery of pulsars.
• Albert Bandura — Historical peer (Born in 1925) (1925): Pioneering psychologist known for Social Cognitive Theory and self-efficacy.
• Alfred Baphethuxolo Nzo — Historical peer (Born in 1925) (1925): Prominent South African politician and long-serving ANC leader.
• -2800 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -2800
• -2700 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from -2700