Colossus of Rameses II
Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world’s oldest skyscraper
After we left the Mir (Meer) or Pyramids and Heru-em-Akhet (Sphinx) at Giza on July 10th, we ventured to what is left of the first capital of Kemet (Egypt), Men Nefer, also known by its Greek name, Memphis.
There, we encountered several statues of Rameses II, or “Rameses the Great.” Among them is the Colossus of Rameses, a 34 foot tall titanic replica of the 18th Dynasty ruler that is cut from limestone. It was impressive!
From Men Nefer, we traveled a short distance to Sakaraa, site of the Step Pyramid. Standing over 20 stories tall and purportedly built during the Third Dynastic period for King Djoser 4,600 years ago, The Step Pyramid qualifies as the world’s first skyscraper.
We also toured a temple and one of several tombs that includes what are known as “The Pyramid Texts.” Carved into the stone walls and ceiling, the “texts,” include “The Book of Coming Forth By Night and By Day,” and other concepts that would later be adapted and repackaged as major portions of the Christian bible.
I was very excited and moved by Sakaraa. I still remember using Imhotep, multi-genius architect, priest, philosopher and physician as a subject for my Speech class in college.
I recalled how stirred I was by the brilliance of this great African man, who’d later be deified and invoked by the Greeks as “Asclepius,” during “The Hippocratic Oath,” written 3,100 years later.
Again, I prayed, meditated, reflected on the great legacy on which I and other African people stand.
I was also reminded of what that means: that I have much work to do.
Left foot forward.
