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What is the oldest pyramid in Africa?

Jamin Lauritsen

Hey there!

So, the oldest pyramid in Africa is located in Egypt and it's called the Pyramid of Djoser. This bad boy is estimated to have been built around 2630 BCE, making it over 4,650 years old. Isn't that insane?!

Now, just to give you some context, the Pyramid of Djoser isn't actually a perfectly shaped pyramid like the ones you see in movies. It's more of a step pyramid, which basically means it has layers that gradually decrease in size as they go up. Still pretty cool though, right?

Speaking of cool, did you know that Egypt has over 100 pyramids?! Yeah, you read that right. ONE HUNDRED. And they're not all as old as the Pyramid of Djoser, but they're still super impressive. The most famous is probably the Great Pyramid of Giza, which was actually the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years (until the Lincoln Cathedral was built in the 1300s).

Anyway, back to the oldest pyramid. The Pyramid of Djoser is located in a complex called Saqqara, which is about 20 miles south of Cairo. It was built for the Pharoah Djoser (hence the name) by his architect Imhotep, who was apparently a pretty big deal back in the day. The pyramid is made out of limestone and stands about 200 feet tall.

Fun fact: the Pyramid of Djoser was actually closed to the public in 2019 because of concerns over its stability. But I'm sure they'll figure out a way to make it safe for visitors again soon.

So there you have it! The oldest pyramid in Africa is the Pyramid of Djoser, located in Egypt and built around 2630 BCE. Thanks for the question, and let me know if you want to learn about any other cool historical facts!