The figurine was hidden between two blocks at the base of the pyramid.
A group of Egyptian specialists carrying out restoration work on the step pyramid of Djoser discovered a unique bronze statuette of the ancient Egyptian god Osiris. During the reign of the pharaohs, he was revered as the god of rebirth, the king of the other world and the judge of souls who had departed to another world.
Mustafa Vaziri, Secretary General of the Council of the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities, told reporters that "the figurine of a powerful deity was found during the restoration of certain parts of the western wall of the Djoser pyramid, located in the archaeological region of Saqqara, a few dozen kilometers south of the modern capital of Egypt, Cairo." It was housed in a cache that was built thousands of years ago between two giant blocks that form the basis of the structure, almost on the very surface of the pyramid. This cache, however, has not been noticed for many centuries. Only now, clearing the hollow spaces between the blocks from rubble, sand and archaeological debris, scientists have discovered a hidden statuette.
Egyptologists believe that the Osiris figurine was placed "in a secluded place" by one of the priests of the ancient temple, located near the pyramid. Apparently, in this way the minister intended to strengthen his connection with the other world, attracting for this purpose "double power" - the pharaoh, who was considered a divine incarnation on earth, and Osiris himself.
The found statuette is in very good condition. It was created, according to archaeologists, in the late period of the reign of the pharaonic dynasties. Its height is just over 60 cm. Osiris is depicted standing, in his hands he holds a heket and nehehu (scepter and flail) - symbols of royal power in Ancient Egypt. According to Vaziri, the artifact was delivered to a special repair shop at the research center in Sakkara, where it will be thoroughly studied and the necessary restoration work will be carried out.
The six-step pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara is the oldest surviving grandiose stone structure in the world. It was built around 2650 BC as a funerary temple for the family of the first pharaoh of the III dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Djoser. At present, the length and width of the pyramid at its base are 121 m and 109 m, the height is 61 m. The step pyramid at Saqqara is considered the forerunner of all smooth Egyptian pyramids erected in the following centuries in Ancient Egypt, including three pyramids on the Giza plateau - Cheops, Khafre and Mikkerin.