The step pyramid of Djoser is located in Saqqara, northwest of the ancient city of Memphis. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage site of "Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur", it is the oldest pyramid construction in Egypt.
Built in the 27th Century BC on the instructions of Djoser (Netjeriykhet), pharaoh of the 3rd dynasty from Egypt's old kingdom as part of his mortuary complex. The engineer responsible for the design and build was the ingenious Imhotep.
This step pyramid developed from the earlier form of burial practice of the so called "mastabas", which were flat roofed, rectangular structures, and is an important step in the development of the true pyramids built during later dynasties.