Definition

Proper noun * An archaeological site in Egypt: Saqqara is a vast, ancient burial ground in Egypt, serving as the necropolis for the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. It is renowned for containing the Step Pyramid of Djoser, one of the earliest and most iconic pyramid structures.

Usage Notes

• Spelling Variant: The word is also commonly spelled Saqqarah or Sakkara. All three spellings refer to the same location.
• Context: This word is used almost exclusively in historical, archaeological, and Egyptological contexts. It is a proper noun referring to a specific place.

Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Step Pyramid at Saqqara is considered the world's oldest monumental stone building.
  • Archaeologists continue to make significant discoveries in the tombs of Saqqara.
  • Our tour of ancient Egyptian sites will include visits to Giza, Dahshur, and Saqqara.

Advanced Usage

• "The Saqqara necropolis": This is a common phrase used to describe the entire archaeological zone, emphasizing its function as a city of the dead.
  • The Saqqara necropolis contains tombs spanning over three thousand years of Egyptian history.

Variants and Related Words

• Saqqarah (proper noun): An alternative spelling.
• Sakkara (proper noun): An alternative spelling.
• Memphite necropolis (noun phrase): A descriptive term for the burial grounds associated with the ancient city of Memphis, which includes Saqqara.

Synonyms

• Archaeological site (general noun): A place where physical remains of past human activity are preserved and studied.
• Necropolis (noun): A large, elaborate cemetery of an ancient city.

Related Terms (Not Synonyms)

• Pyramid (noun): A monumental structure with a square base and four triangular sides. Saqqara is famous for its pyramids, but the word itself is a place name.
• Mastaba (noun): A type of ancient Egyptian tomb with a flat roof and sloping sides, many of which are found at Saqqara.
• Memphis (proper noun): The ancient capital city of Egypt, near which Saqqara is located.

Noun

1. a town in northern Egypt; site of the oldest Egyptian pyramids