Serapeum of Saqqara

The Serapeum is an underground temple complex beneath Saqqara with long corridors housing massive stone sarcophagi. These containers were designed to hold the mummified remains of sacred bulls and are built from heavy stone blocks.

This site served as a burial place for sacred bulls across multiple dynasties of ancient Egypt. In 1850, French archaeologist Auguste Mariette discovered the hidden entrance and found the ancient remains of bulls preserved inside.

Ancient Egyptians revered certain bulls as living forms of the god Ptah and believed they became Osiris after death. This religious respect was so important that the animals received grand funerals and were placed in specially built underground chambers.

The complex lies underground and requires stairs to descend into the corridors, so comfortable shoes are important. The chambers are dark and cool, and visitors should allow time to explore the different rooms at a steady pace.

The sarcophagi are impressively large and heavy, but only a few bear inscriptions showing which bulls lie inside them. Most containers were sealed thousands of years ago and visitors can still see their original darkening and damage from time.