South pyramid of Masghuna
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 The southern pyramid of Masghuna; Photo from 1911
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The southern pyramid of Masghuna is an ancient Egyptian royal tomb that was erected during the 12th or 13th Dynasty . The building remained unfinished. It is not known which Pharaoh was to be buried here. Corresponding written documents have not yet been found. Due to structural similarities to the Hawara pyramid Amenemhet III. However, it is usually assigned to his son Amenemhet IV . At the same time, the Northern Pyramid of Masghuna is considered the tomb of his sister Nofrusobek , the last ruler of the 12th dynasty. However, some researchers count both structures as part of the 13th dynasty. According to a recent investigation, however, the southern pyramid of Masghuna seems to be the tomb of Neferusobek.
The only investigation of the pyramid so far took place in 1910 by Ernest Mackay .
The pyramid
The pyramid has a side length of 52.50 m (100 cubits). The core masonry consists of bricks and only reaches a height of one or two layers. Cladding stones were not found, so no details can be given about the planned angle of inclination and the height.
The substructure
In the middle of the south side is the entrance to the pyramid. A staircase leads down to a short horizontal passage. Here is a wall niche from where a blocking stone was pushed into the corridor. Another staircase leads to a second blockage, which, however, has not been locked. A U-shaped chamber system finally leads to the burial chamber, which is crowned by a gable roof. In it was an empty granite - sarcophagus and a few grave goods (three lamps made of limestone , an alabaster -Gefäß in the form of a duck, a make-up vessel of alabaster and a piece of polished soapstone ).
The pyramid complex
The complex is surrounded by a wave-shaped wall. A chapel is built into it in the middle of the east side. It consists of a large central chamber with two magazine rooms on each side. A sacrificial hall with a vaulted roof adjoins the southwest corner of the central chamber.
The sarcophagus lid
Limestone ceiling blocks
Stairs east of the antechamber
Staircase leading to the burial chamber
literature
- Mark Lehner : The Secret of the Pyramids in Egypt . Orbis Verlag, Munich 1999, pp. 184-185, ISBN 3-572-01039-X .
- WM Flinders Petrie , GA Wainwright, E. Mackay: The Labyrinth, Gerzeh and Mazghuneh. Quaritch, London 1912.
- Rainer Stadelmann : The Egyptian pyramids. From brick construction to the wonder of the world (= cultural history of the ancient world . Volume 30). 3rd, updated and expanded edition. Philipp von Zabern, Mainz 1997, ISBN 3-8053-1142-7 , pp. 250-251.
- Christoffer Theis: The chronological order of the pyramids of the 13th dynasty. In: Sokar. Volume 19, 2009, pp. 52-61.
- Miroslav Verner : The pyramids (= rororo non-fiction book. Volume 60890). Rowohlt, Reinbek bei Hamburg 1999, ISBN 3-499-60890-1 , pp. 472-474.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Christoffer Theis: The chronological order of the pyramids of the 13th dynasty. In: Sokar 19 (2009), pp. 52-61.
Coordinates: 29 ° 45 ′ 42 ″ N , 31 ° 13 ′ 15 ″ E