SAQQARA /
Zoser. Heb-Sed Court
Among the most surprising of all traditions of Ancient Egypt is for me the Heb-Sed festival. This was held for any pharaoh who had been in power for 30 years. In the festival, the king was supposed to run back and forth over the court to prove his strength and good health. Dignitaries and the most prominent judges would be seated on either side, waiting for this unique spectacle to take place. After the king had completed the run (if he hadn't been up to it, he would have avoided it altogether), a great celebration would take place, involving thousands of people. This Heb-Sed court was however never used by Zoser, he died in his 19th year in power. But perhaps King Pepi 2 used it 400 years later? He stayed in power long enough to go through this ceremony 3 times.
