South pyramid of Saqqara-South

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Floor plan of the pyramid complex
The substructure
The burial chamber

The southern pyramid of Saqqara-Süd is located southwest of the Chendjer pyramid and dates to the 13th dynasty . It was already mapped by the Richard Lepsius Expedition (Lepsius Pyramid XLVI) and then excavated by Gustave Jéquier . The identity of the ruler buried here has not yet been clearly clarified.

owner

In the remains of the pyramid itself, no written evidence has yet been discovered that would provide information about the builder. The only evidence so far is a single block of stone found by Gustave Jéquier , which bears a fragment of an inscription with the Nebti name User-chau . However, there is no marking on the stone that would ensure a more precise assignment to one of the five royal names. According to recent studies, the building could possibly be assigned to King Djehuti , as the name User-chau has been handed down as a gold name for him .

Details

The pyramid had a side length of 78.75 m, which corresponds to 150 cubits. However, in the various works of literature about the pyramid, there are also quite different information, which range from 80 meters on a side to an estimated 130 meters. The unfinished building is surrounded by a wave wall. But there were no remains of cult buildings. At the entrance to the pyramid there were two unlabeled pyramidia .

Although the superstructure was barely started, the underground facility is as good as completed. The entrance was to the east and led up a staircase to a corridor, at the end of which there was a side fall barrier. The corridor bent to the north here, and then after approx. 40 m again to the east. At the end of this corridor there was a blind corridor to the south and another, which led via a staircase to two chambers with fall barriers and then to two burial chambers. The presence of a second burial chamber is uncommon and it can only be speculated what this means. It has been assumed that this was created to deceive grave robbers or for a queen. Another theory is that it is the tomb for the ruler's ka or the south tomb .

The design of the system is extremely sophisticated and shows the high skill of the craftsmen in the 13th dynasty.

literature

  • Gustave Jéquier : Deux pyramides du Moyen Empire (= Fouilles à Saqqarah. Volume 68). Institut Français d'Archéologie Orientale, Cairo 1933, pp. 36–63 ( online ).
  • Mark Lehner : The first wonder of the world. ECON, Düsseldorf 1997, ISBN 3-430-15963-6 , p. 187.
  • Christoffer Theis: About the owner of the pyramid Lepsius XLVI / SAK S6 in the south of Saqqara. In: Göttinger Miscellen. (GM) Volume 218, Göttingen 2008, pp. 101-105 ( online ).

Individual evidence

  1. ^ G. Jequier: Deux pyramides du Moyen Empire. Cairo 1933, p. 55ff.
  2. ↑ C. Theis: About the owner of the pyramid Lepsius XLVI / SAK S6 in the south of Saqqara. Göttingen 2008, p. 102.
  3. ^ J. Vandier: Manuel d'archéologie égyptienne. Volume II: Les grandes époques. 2, L'architecture religieuse et civile. Picard & Cie, Paris 1955, p. 207.
  4. ↑ Christian Hölzl (ed.): The pyramids of Egypt. Monuments of Eternity (= catalog of the Lower Austrian State Museum. New series; No. 453). Brandstätter, Vienna 2004, ISBN 3-8549-8360-3 , p. 133.

Web links

Commons : South Pyramid of Saqqara-South  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Coordinates: 29 ° 49 ′ 50 ″  N , 31 ° 13 ′ 20 ″  E