The djed is an ancient Egyptian symbol for stability which features prominently in Egyptian art and architecture throughout the country's history. `Stability' should be understood to mean not only a firm footing but immutability and permanance. The symbol is a column with a broad base which narrows as it rises to a capital and is crossed by four parallel lines. The column and the lines are sometimes brightly painted and other times monochrome. The djed first appears in the Predynastic Period in Egypt (c. 6000-3150 BCE) and continues through the Ptolemaic Dynasty (323-30 BCE), the last dynasty to rule Egypt before it became a province of the Roman Empire.
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Definition
Timeline
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c. 6000 BCE - c. 3150 BCEDjed symbol in use during the Predynastic Period in Egypt.
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c. 2670 BCEDjed symbol features prominently in architecture of the Step Pyramid of Djoser.
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323 BCE - 30 BCEThe Djed continues in use during the Ptolemaic Dynasty, last dynasty of Egypt.
