Napoleon brought a team of scholars and scientists along with his army who explored, examined, recorded, and studied the monuments of ancient Egyptian culture and who, among other accomplishments, discovered the Rosetta Stone in 1799 CE, the trilingual inscription stele which enabled French scholar Jean-Francois Champollion (1790-1832 CE) to decipher the Egyptian hieroglyphs and open up the history of ancient Egypt for the world. [46] Jean-Philippe Lauer suggests that the wall was modelled after the 'White Walls' of Memphis, though Verner notes that the presence of so many doors renders this unlikely. This was when elite young men took a year off after their formal education to visit sites of artistic, intellectual and architectural heritage. The south court is a large court between the south tomb and the pyramid. The false doors and the trench were incorporated into the complex to discourage unwanted guests. The Step Pyramid of Djoser, constructed at Saqqara about 4,700 years ago, was the first pyramid the Egyptians ever built. Djed pillarsMichael Tinkler (CC BY-NC-SA). The 6-tier, 4-sided structure is the earliest colossal stone building in Egypt. 2686-2125 BCE) Location: Saqqara, Egypt Purpose: Burial chamber for Djoser (Horus Ntry-ht, ruled 2667-2648 BCE) Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. Was it the oldest large-scale stone structure ever built? [19] The west wall of the entrance colonnade has the form of an open door which leads into the south court. The Djoser Pyramid is found in the Saqqara necropolis, situated in the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. It is not only the first Egyptian pyramid but actually the first pyramid in the world! The pyramids are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt and still hold enormous interest for people in the present day. [49] It comprises two distinct passageways oriented approximately eastwest. [15] In a modern context, the same element would be built by laying out the blocks to form the recesses. Once the ba, high above, saw the home of its owner, it could swoop down, enter, and visit the earthly plane again. On completion the step pyramid had a base length of 109m (358ft; 208cu) by 121m (397ft; 231cu) that rose to a height of 6062.5m (197205ft; 115119cu) and occupied a volume of 330,400m3 (11,670,000cuft). Djoser was an ambitious builder of monuments and temples. The entire complex was enclosed by a wall, 16. Answer: vii [52] They supported a limestone ceiling whose blocks carved again into the form of palm tree trunks. The pyramid is part of a complex of buildings, said to have been planned and executed by that most famous architect of the ancient world, Imhotep. Djoser's tomb predates that of Sneferu, whose Red Pyramid was the first completed true pyramid, built sometime between 2613 and 2589 BCE. It rose over 200 feet into the air, which is the same height as about 40 refrigerators. The south tomb has been likened to the satellite pyramids of later dynasties, and has been proposed to house the ka in the afterlife. It consists of six mastabas, rectangular structures with a flat roof used for building tombs, which were put atop each other. Using the same mastabas that had been around for centuries, he took a new approach by stacking them on top of each other to form the iconic step pyramid.. Bibliography [16][19] These phases are traditionally labelled, following Jean-Philippe Lauer's excavations: M1, M2, M3, P1, P1', and P2. The finished pyramid complex of Djoser was unlike anything the ancient Egyptians had seen before. One of the most remarkable facts about the Pyramid of Djoser is that his body was never recovered from his tomb. On March 5, 2020 the UNESCO world heritage site was reopened to tourists after $6.6 million and 14 years of renovation work. This necropolis (literally 'city of the dead') is among the world's largest and most striking funerary complexes, set over an area of more than 10km. An earlier Egyptian pyramid was built 4,700 years ago in Saqqara for a 3rd Dynasty pharaoh Netjerikhet, commonly known as Djoser. Facts About Saqqara. As for now, we can only guess, and its widely accepted that they must have used ramps in combination with rollers to move the massive stones into place, something which appears to be much easier than initially thought by using a trick with wet sand. Djoser was highly respected during his reign and still, centuries after, was held in high regard as evidenced by the Famine Stele from the Ptolemaic Dynasty (332-30 BCE) which tells the story of Djoser saving the country from famine by re-building the temple of Khnum, the god of the source of the Nile River, who was thought to be holding back his grace because his shrine was in disrepair; once Djoser restored it, the famine was lifted. To the Greeks, Imhotep was known as "Imouthes". 2630 The Step Pyramid was built during the Third Dynasty as the tomb for Pharaoh Djoser. These grand, impressive tributes to the memory of the Egyptian kings have become linked with the country even though other cultures, such as the Chinese and Mayan, also built pyramids. Our publication has been reviewed for educational use by Common Sense Education, Internet Scout (University of Wisconsin), Merlot (California State University), OER Commons and the School Library Journal. 3. [16] This phase of the pyramid had four steps that rose to a height of 42m (138ft; 80cu). [2][18][35], Much of the rock for the pyramid was likely quarried from the construction of the great trench. The oldest of them, the Pyramid of Djoser, was built about 4500 years ago. [51] The ceiling blocks here were carved into the shape of tree trunks. The women in ancient Egypt enjoyed legal and economical equality with men. This suggests that the state, and therefore the royal government, had a new level of control of resources, both material and human. The Pyramid of Djoser, also called the Step Pyramid is the oldest known Egyptian Pyramid. Table of Contents hide 1. The pyramid complex of Userkafwas built c. 2490 BC[1]for the pharaoh Userkaf(reigned 2494-2487 BC), founder of the 5th Dynastyof Egypt (c. 2494-2345 BC). The Step Pyramid of Djoser A. With his base in Memphis, Djoser most likely. Please note that some of these recommendations are listed under our old name, Ancient History Encyclopedia. Reopened on 5 March, 2020, visitors are now invited to explore the pyramids labyrinthine passageways and surrounding structure, all of which were constructed several thousand years ago. A History of Ancient Egypt: From the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid, John Romer p294-295, "Egypt reopens Djoser pyramid, country's oldest, after 14-year restoration", Virtual exploration of the southern entrance of the Step Pyramid, Virtual exploration of the burial chamber, Unfinished Northern Pyramid of Zawyet el'Aryan, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pyramid_of_Djoser&oldid=1137091111, Buildings and structures completed in the 27th century BC, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Memphis and its Necropolis the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur, This page was last edited on 2 February 2023, at 19:22. The Ancient Egyptians built numerous large pyramids, and this is one of the oldest of all. Djoser's Step Pyramid complex at Saqqara was the earliest construction of its size in world history fully made of stone." (56) Building in stone seems to have been the idea of Imhotep whose inscription appears on the Step Pyramid as chief architect. Her first translation is due to be published next year. The evolution of the pyramid form has been written about and debated for centuries but there is no question that, as far as Egypt is concerned, it began with one monument to one king designed by one brilliant architect: the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara. This statue would have been of great importance to the soul of the king in the afterlife. Napoleon's expedition was the first systematic study of the civilization and, later, led to the first western museum to install a permanent Egyptian wing at the Louvre in Paris. It was built for the pharaoh Djoser who actually had another name. None of Djoser's accomplishments or building projects are as impressive, however, as his eternal home at Saqqara. In March 2020, the pyramid was reopened for visitors after a 14-year restoration. This design reflects the ascension of Djoser to the rank of a god. The success of Djoser's pyramid complex echoed through later antiquity in . The Step Pyramid Of Djoser 3rd Dynasty Pyramid complex of Djoser built by Imhotep, Saqqara Djoser's funerary complex, created by the great architect Imhotep, is characteristic of the kind of cultural and architectural developments that took place during his reign. The basic material used was limestone blocks, whose form resembled that of large bricks of clay (115-116). The complex has a monumental entrance, 17. After the last Ice Age, a huge glacier covering half of the Earth with an ice sheet retreated, and about 14,000 years ago, the Baltic Ice Lake formed in the place of the modern Baltic Sea. The Pyramid of Djoser is located in the Saqqara Necropolis, just northwest of the Ancient city of Memphis. The Step Pyramid of Djoser is the first Pyramid built in Egyptian History in the 27 th century. The Emperor of the French: Who Was Napoleon Bonaparte? Djoser (c. 2670 BCE) was the first king of the Third Dynasty of Egypt and the first to build in stone. Built as tombs for the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom, the earliest was the "Stepped Pyramid" at Saqqara, tomb of Djoser, great-great grandfather of Khufu, the builder of the largest of the. The technological advances of the 18th century meant that Egypt began to attract more and more visitors from across the Mediterranean. Its purpose was to facilitate a successful afterlife for the king so that he could be eternally reborn. The pyramid went through several revisions and redevelopments of the original plan. The Great Pyramid of Khufu in Giza is arguably the most famous of all pyramids in Egypt, or in the world for that matter. Little is known of Djoser's reign. Once covered in pink The Djoser Pyramid In Egypt: 10 Facts on The First Pyramid [41] At the southern end of the court was a platform approached by steps. Such stories present Imhotep as a powerful magician, whose construction of the great step pyramid was a miraculous work of sorcery. He found interesting evidence of limestone blocks with five pointed stars in low relief that were likely on the ceiling, indicating the first occurrence of what would become a tradition. the famous Temple of Hatshepsut was only built 1,200 later! Located in the ancient city of Saqqara, this pyramid is considered to be the first monumental stone structure built by the ancient Egyptians, and it has played a significant role in . 5 Myths About Emperor Caligula You Shouldnt Believe, 12 Surprising Facts About the Egyptian Pyramids. Both at work and at home, Mia is surrounded by books, and enjoys writing about great works of fiction and poetry. [16] This shift to limestone a hard, dense material compared to mudbrick presented novel challenges to the architects, though they kept to earlier tradition, copying architectonic elements and carving them into the stone. "The Step Pyramid was a revolutionary advance in architecture and became the archetype (archetype:- an original which has been imitated) which all other great pyramid builders of Egypt would follow." Questions 21-24 Complete the Notes below. The pharaoh dug a pit deep in the mound and by using the ramp the chambers and the access passage were constructed. Imhotep's architectural plans were both ambitious and completely original. King Djoser Pyramid 5. His minister, Imhotep, a talented architect and physician, was himself deified in later periods. The step pyramid has great significance in understanding the antiquity of pyramids in ancient Egypt. A papyrus from the Roman period narrates a series of fictionalized adventures from the architects life, while another describes him as a descendant of the gods. Djoser most likely had many wives; however, the most famous wife of his was most likely queen Hetphernepti. Mazes were also incorporated into the design in order to foil potential robbers (253). Initially, tombs of kings and queens were underground. The tunnels were clad with blue wall tiles, 14. At the north and south ends there are three chapels with flat roofs and no columns. Three chambers of this substructure are decorated in blue faience to imitate reed-mat facades, just like the pyramid. 01 Mar 2023. World History Encyclopedia. The Egyptian authorities expect it to attract a huge number of tourists, who are now allowed to enter inside the dense network of passageways and even visit the inner burial chamber where the legendary Pharaoh was laid to rest. [14] It was the advent of the pyramidal form of the royal tomb and the first instance of the mass use of limestone in construction,[15] replacing mudbrick which had been the staple building material prior. License. It was eventually displaced as the capital when the city of Alexandria was founded in the 4th century BC, but still remains an important historical and archaeological site. The pyramids are the most famous monuments of ancient Egypt and still hold enormous interest for people in the present day. This article was most recently revised and updated by. Its most famous building was the Djoser pyramid, where six rectangular pieces in squares and stacked on top of each other. Despite these challenges, its sturdy foundations kept the Egyptian pyramid standing, but in 2006 it was deemed to be at risk of collapse. The wall had 13 false doors cut into it with only one true entrance cut in the south-east corner; the entire wall was then ringed by a trench 2,460 feet (750 meters) long and 131 feet (40 meters) wide. The substructure lay in a 4m (13ft) deep rectangular pit, and had mudbrick walls rising to 6m (20ft). The Great Trench was about 750 meters (2,360 feet) long and 40 meters (130 feet) wide and historians believe it also served as extra protection for the complex. [48], Enclosure wall of the step pyramid complex, Entrance corridor facing towards the desert, The entrance colonnade led from the enclosure wall to the south court of the complex. The pyramid is an impressive sight, but it would have been even more so after it was first finished. [37] For transport, apparatuses like rollers were used in which the heavy stone could be placed and then rolled. Lauer believes that a burial chamber of alabaster existed before the one of granite. Kids Encyclopedia Facts Djoser (other names include Netjerikhet, Tosorthos, and Sesorthos) was the first Pharaoh, or king of the Third Dynasty of Egypt, c. 2670 BCE. The pyramid of Djoser is the centerpiece of a vast mortuary complex that contains multiple structures and decorations. For nearly 3,000 years he was venerated in Egypt as a semi-divine philosopher, and during the Ptolemaic period, as the god of medicine and healing. [32] The conversion (P1) encased the mastaba (M3) extending its length by 5.76m (19ft; 11cu) on each axis giving it a base length of 85.5m (281ft; 163cu) by 77m (253ft; 147cu). It remains one of the greatest mysteries in history: How did the Ancient Egyptians manage to build these enormous structures? This means that it started out being built with the shape of a mastaba, but 6 steps were added on top of it. The World History Encyclopedia logo is a registered trademark. The pyramids of Giza were the first to be built The pyramids of Giza were the first to be built. The festival was held in the 30th year of the king's reign and then every three years afterwards to revitalize his rule by re-enacting his coronation. Mark, J. J. This fits into the theory proposed by Barry Kemp, and generally accepted by many, that suggests the whole step pyramid complex symbolizes the royal palace enclosure and allows the king to eternally perform the rituals associated with kingship. Last modified August 28, 2021, Your email address will not be published. [16][34] These leaned on each other from opposite ends providing greater stability preventing a collapse. Step Pyramid of Djoser Facts: At Saqqara is Step Pyramid of Djoser, considered the first pyramid in the world and the oldest large stone structure. Criterion (i): In Memphis was founded one of the most important monuments of the world, and the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, namely, the Great Pyramid of Giza. Second, and more importantly, Djoser is known for his funerary monument, the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, which was notably built out of stone blocks rather than mud bricks . The early mastaba was built in two stages and, according to Egyptologist Miroslav Verner. Djoser was so proud of his accomplishment that he broke precedent of having only his own name on a monument and had Imhotep's name carved as well. The Djoser Pyramid has appeared again and again in popular culture throughout the millennia that have passed since its construction. Only the privileged few with permission were able to enter the extraordinary monument. On the east side of the pyramid, eleven shafts 32m deep were constructed and annexed to horizontal tunnels for royal family members. [10] Flanking the east and west sides of the court are the remains of two groups of chapels, many of which are dummy buildings, of three different architectural styles. A majestic limestone structure in the heart of the Pyramid Complex of Saqqara, the Pyramid of Djoser (or Zoser) stands as one of the most renowned archaeological sites in the world. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The pyramid's base covered over 13 acres and its sides rose at an angle of 51 degrees 52 minutes and were over 755 feet long. There is direct evidence for some of these stages, though others remain hypothetical in nature as confirming or disproving them would require dismantling the pyramid. 3. World History Encyclopedia is a non-profit organization. She holds a BA in Classics from the University of Cambridge. It's signature structure is Djoser's Step Pyramid one of the earliest pyramids built in ancient Egypt. The project to restore the Pyramid of Djoser to its former glory took 14 years in total and was disrupted several times. We care about our planet! Another proposal is that it may have held the canopic jar with the king's organs, but this does not follow later trends where the canopic jar is found in the same place as the body. The extensive restoration work to preserve the Djoser Pyramid has ensured that the monument survives for thousands of years to come as a key piece of world history, and is accessible to visitors eager to learn about the wonders of the ancient world. This ancient city is the ancient capital ofInebu-hedj, one of the regions, referred to as a Nome, of Lower Egypt. Corrections? Here are some interesting facts about the Pyramid of Djoser, one of the most fascinating buildings in Egypt. 10. These vessels are inscribed with the names of rulers from the First and Second Dynasty of Egypt and are made from all kinds of stone such as diorite, limestone, alabaster, siltstone, and slate. Pharaoh Djoser built a step pyramid in Saqqara south of Giza around 2630 BCE. The Oldest Pyramid in Egypt is Being Destroyed by its Own Restoration Team by Beverley Mitchell, An Introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, The Encyclopedia of Ancient Egyptian Architecture, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Regarded as the oldest pyramid ever built in Egypt, the Step Pyramid of Djoser was a monument that revolutionized ancient Egyptian architecture. The Pyramid of Djoser is an incredible structure that reflects ancient Egyptian engineering and artistry. The symbolic king's inner palace, decorated in blue faience, is much more complete than that of the pyramid. [16][44] Fourteen of these bastions were larger than the rest. Dominating the Saqqara landscape, the pyramid is . Built entirely of stone, the innovative structure was a departure from the traditional use of mud bricks along with stone. The idea was this statue would help protect the tomb. A-Z Index - Art Timeline - Architecture Timeline - Contact - Terms - Privacy Policy - About Art Facts, 1. This would have been an elongated step pyramid if the remaining side had not been left uncovered. [2] This element was revised repeatedly in construction, going through a series of developmental phases that culminated in its step pyramidal form. Thus, paragraph A is equivalent to heading iv. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/862/the-step-pyramid-of-djoser-at-saqqara/. At 750m (2,460ft; 1,430cu) long and 40m (130ft; 76cu) wide, the trench is the largest structure of this kind in the Memphis necropolis. Some of these buildings have niches for statues. World History Publishing is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. A huge renovation project was started in 2006 but was halted in 2011 and 2012 for security reasons, only to resume in 2013. Djoser (other names include Netjerikhet, Tosorthos, and Sesorthos) was the first Pharaoh, or king of the Third Dynasty of Egypt, c. 2670 BCE. Unfortunately, the pyramid and its grand complex today is in danger of collapse owing to an earthquake which shook the region in 1992 CE and inadequate and incompetent efforts taken to preserve and restore it. It sets several important precedents, perhaps the most important of which is its status as the first monumental structure made of stone. Djoser had everything he needed for the afterlife, 12. [40], The Heb-sed court is rectangular and parallel to the South Courtyard. Inside the pyramid of Djoser. The pyramid complex was enclosed by a wall with a single entrance at the southeast corner of the precinct. The GPS coordinates of the Pyramid of Djoser are 295216.56N 311259.02E. The ancient Egyptians held strong beliefs about the afterlife, burying their rulers with their possessions (and sometimes even their slaves!) To this day, some of the underground chambers are still deemed at risk of collapse. It is still not clear whether Djoser was the direct heir of the king. (plan: Franck Monnier, CC BY-SA 3.0) For Djoser's complex, a rectangular section of desert was delineated by boundary stela, a massive trench, and a wall containing an area of 37 acres. Until then, Egyptian royal tombs had been underground . His mother was queen Nimaathap, while his father was king Khasekhemwy. Just outside these walls, there was a huge trench that was dug and most probably served as a quarry for the structures inside the complex. [9] Several features of the complex differ from those of later Old Kingdom pyramids. A total of 40,000 stone artifacts were found to suit him in his afterlife! This courtyard, which contains the House of the North and the House of the South, also has thirteen small chapels. Djoser's complex, in fact, was larger than the city of Hierkanpolis at the time. When he was the pharaoh, he wasnt known as Djoser though but by his Horus name Netjeriykhet. Imhotep reproduced in stone what had been previously built of other materials. It is decorated with niches which are suggested by Nabil Swelim to have hosted the spirits of members of the king's court, there to serve the king in his afterlife. [29], Egyptologists are split on the motivations behind the conception of the pyramidal form that the mastaba was converted into. The Djoser Pyramid In Egypt: 10 Facts on The First Pyramid, The Step Pyramid of Djoser, photograph by Eliot Elisofon, The restoration works at the Djoser Pyramid, The main entrance leading to the Colonnade and part of the niched enclosure of Djoser s complex, photograph by Eliot Elisofon, 11 Most Expensive American Art Auction Results in the last 10 Years, 12 Things to Know of the Neoclassicism Movement. Plan of Djoser's Stepped Pyramid complex, Saqqara, Egypt, Old Kingdom, 3rd Dynasty, c. 2675-2625 B.C.E. [44][45] Hermann Kees thought the fifteen doors were related to the sed festival and indicated its duration as being half a lunar month. Since it was the first massive pyramid and because the site was used as a burial for thousands of years to come, it was severely robbed, which includes apparently the body of the pharaoh who was buried there. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Our mission is to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. Hopefully, preservation efforts at Djoser's Step Pyramid will improve in time to save this unique site for visitors to appreciate and admire in the future as they have for the past 4,000 years. [44][46][47] Alan Spencer compares the design to the panelled construction of the palace faade, which imitates bound bundles of reeds. Furthermore, the Djoser complex has one niched enclosure wall, whereas later pyramids have two enclosure walls with the outside one being smooth and the inside one sometimes niched. This is where Djoser got his inspiration from, 8. Was it the oldest large-scale stone structure ever built? [54] Near the beginning of the colonnade, at its eastern end, is a corridor which leads to the heb-sed court. It has been suggested that this was a platform for the double throne. These make accessing the enclosure wall more difficult, indicating its function as a safe-guard. Djoser's step pyramid is astounding in its departure from previous architecture. The underground passages are vast and one of the most mysterious discoveries inside are the stone vessels. The casing was 4.2m (14ft; 8cu) thick at the base and 3.4m (11ft; 6.5cu) thick at the peak, which was 0.65m (2ft; 1cu) lower than the initial mastaba height. Miroslav Verner writes, "Few monuments hold a place in human history as significant as that of the Step Pyramid in SaqqaraIt can be said without exaggeration that his pyramid complex constitutes a milestone in the evolution of monumental stone architecture in Egypt and in the world as a whole (108-109)." World History Encyclopedia. Credit: Reuters. These items were often beer, grain, fancy clothes, or expensive jewellery . Imhotep's most famous architectural work came during the reign of Pharaoh Djoser in the Third Dynasty. He witnessed these ceremonies through two small eye holes cut in the north wall of the serdab. It consists of six huge mastabas, one on top of the other, in what were six distinctive revisions and developments of the original plan: a mastaba with a square base, 63 meters on a side, and eight meters high. The pyramid was built in multiple stages. [41] At the very south of the South Court lay the South Tomb. 2. [15] For example, the Egyptians hand-carved 1,680 9m (30ft; 17cu)-tall niches out of the limestone enclosure wall. The phrase there is no question expresses certainty, which is equivalent to a certainty (title iv). [23] A second casing of fine white limestone was applied to this which increased the mastaba's base length to 71.5m (235ft; 136cu) square (M2). Historian Margaret Bunson writes: The subterranean passages and chambers were adorned with fine reliefs and with blue faience tiles made to resemble the matted curtains of the royal residence at Memphis. 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But was halted in 2011 and 2012 for security reasons, only to resume in 2013 the 27 th.! And stacked on top of each other converted into 253 ) in popular culture throughout the that! The entrance colonnade has the form of an open door which leads into the air, which contains the of! Southeast corner of the pyramid went through several revisions and redevelopments of the French: who was Napoleon?... Had mudbrick walls rising to 6m ( 20ft ) than that of the south court great significance understanding. Was himself deified in later periods pyramid went through several revisions and redevelopments of precinct. Due to be built the pyramids of Giza were the first to build in.... Wasnt known as Djoser been underground 2630 BCE was built 4,700 years ago in for! Like rollers were used in which the heavy stone could be placed and then rolled could be and... The Greeks, Imhotep was known as Djoser niches out of the Third Dynasty as the tomb [ 41 at. It the oldest large-scale stone structure ever built in Egyptian History in the necropolis. Carved into the complex differ from those of later old Kingdom pyramids famous monuments of ancient and... The stone vessels no question expresses certainty, which were put atop each other from opposite ends providing stability! For pharaoh Djoser built a Step pyramid has great significance in understanding the antiquity of pyramids in ancient Egypt still. Impressive, however, as his eternal home at Saqqara about 4,700 years ago in Saqqara south the... Distinct passageways oriented approximately eastwest form that the mastaba was built about 4500 years ago in Saqqara south of pyramid... The world out being built with the shape of tree trunks, Surprising! Strong beliefs about the pyramid of Djoser, one of the pyramidal form that the mastaba was converted into Step... Been previously built of other materials on top of it atop each other several. Open door which leads into the air, which is the centerpiece of a mastaba, but 6 steps added! Saqqara necropolis, situated in the north and south ends there are three with!

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