Timeline_pyramids and Pyramid Like Structures - Wikiversity

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1 Dynasty 1 and 21.1 Ptahhotep Enclosure1.2 Gisr el Mudir (Great Enclosure)1.3 Mound Burial of Khasekhemwy?

2 Dynasty 32.1 Djoser's Pyramid (aka 'Step' Pyramid)2.2 Sekhemkhet's Step Pyramid2.3 The Layer Pyramid (Lepsius XIV)2.4 Lepsius Pyramid No. I2.5 Small Step Pyramids

3 Dynasty 43.1 Pyramid of Meidum3.2 The Bent Pyramid3.3 The North or Red Pyramid3.4 The Great Pyramid or Khufu's Pyramid3.5 Pyramid at Abu Rawash3.6 Unfinished Pyramid (Lepsius XIII)3.7 Khafre's Pyramid3.8 Menkaure's Pyramid3.9 Mastabat el-Fara'un

4 References5 Comments and Questions

Ptahhotep Enclosure

Ruler: unknown, possibly 2nd dynasty, possibly Peribsen or Sekhemib?Location: SaqqaraDate: ca 2625?Dimensions:Materials used: mud brick?The Ptahhotep enclosure is located to the west of Djoser's step pyramid. It has been dated anywhere fromthe second to the early third dynasty. A large mudbrick structure is situated in the center, but the precisestructure is not known.[1]

Gisr el Mudir (Great Enclosure)

Timeline for development of pyramids and pyramid like structures - Wi... http://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Timeline_for_development_of_pyramids...

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Ruler: Unknown (Possibly 2nd dynasty, Khasekhemwy?)Location: SaqqaraDate: ca 2611 2584 BCDimensions: the enclosure measures ca 350 X 650 mMaterials used: ??

Large enclosure in Saqqara thought to possibly date to the time or Khasekhemwy. It may date to an evenearlier time period. It is one of the largest monumental structures at Saqqara. No structure has beendefinitely located inside the enclosure, but granite and stone found in the north-west corner may indicatethat a building once stood there.[1][2]

link: Gisr el-mudir page (http://www.saqqara.nl/saqqara/landmarks/gisr-el-mudir) at Saqqara online. Thepage includes a short description and an areal photograph.

Mound Burial of Khasekhemwy?

Ruler: KhasekhemwyLocation: AbydosDate: ca 2611 - 2584 BCDimensions:Materials used: mud brick

The last king of the 2nd dynasty was buried in Abydos and the remains of his burial complex shows evidenceof the existence of a mound over the burial site. The mound consisted of sand and gravel covered by a mudbrick layer. The mound was not buried as it was in earlier funerary monuments. The mound was part of alarger funerary monument enclosed by a large mud brick wall. This wall would have been about 5 metersthick and the remains stands some 11 meters tall even today.[3]

Step pyramids were developed during this period. The capital of Egypt was likely in Memphis and theroyal necropolis was situated in Saqqara. There were two different possiblities for constructing apyramid like shape. The first method is to stack inscreasingly smaller square or rectangular shapes,thereby created a stepped core that could then be dressed is a layer of stone. Another technique is tocreate a solid core followed by accretions. Concentric shells of decreasing height would be angledagainst the core thereby creating a stepped center that could then be covered by a layer of stones.Both techniques were used in the history of the construction of pyramids.

Link: The Accretion Theory (http://www.catchpenny.org/accretion.html) by Bonnie M. Sampsell.

Djoser's Pyramid (aka 'Step' Pyramid)

Ruler: Djoser (Horus name: Netjerikhet)Location: SaqqaraDate: ca 2584 2565 BCDimensions: Stage I (4-step pyramid) base 71 meters X 71.5 meters; height 8.4 metersStage II (6-step pyramid) base 109 meters X 121 meters; height 62.5 metersMaterials used: limestone

Djoser Horus name Netjerikhet was likely the first king of the 3rd dynasty.[4]

This famous complex in Saqqara was investigated by Napoleon's Egyptian Campaign, the Prussian Generalvon Minutoli and John Perring. The first thorough excavation was conducted by Firth in the 1920s. Much of


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Djoser's Step pyramid in Saqqara

Sekhemkhet's Pyramid complex

our present knowledge about Djoser's complex is due toLauer however.

See also Djoser's Step Pyramid in Saqqara for a moredetailed description of the pyramid complex.

Sekhemkhet's Step Pyramid

Ruler: Djoser-Ti (Horus name Sekhemkhet)Location: SaqqaraDate: ca 2556 - 2550 BCDimensions: ca 120 meters X 120 meters base with aheight of 70 meters.The pyramid was only completed to a height of ca 8meters.Materials used: Limestone (?)

According to Verner, mason's inscriptions on the perimeter wall include the name of the architect Imhotep,indicating that the man responsible for the design of Djoser's complex also designed Sekhemkhet's funerarycomplex. The complex was never finished, and the pyramid may have only been constructed up to a heightof 26 feet. The size of the ground plan indicates the planned structure could have been as high as 210 feet.

According to Lehner the masons used "accretions leaning inwards at an angle of 15o with sloping courses ofstone laid at right angles to the incline."[5]

Link: Saqqara Online Sekhemkhet (http://www.saqqara.nl/saqqara/landmarks/step-pyramid-of-sekhemkhet) Short description of the sire with an areal photograph.

The Layer Pyramid (Lepsius XIV)

Ruler: Possibly Khaba (or possibly Neferka)Location: Zawiyet el-AryanDate: ca 2545 BCDimensions: base of 84 meters X 84 meters, height ??Materials used: ??Possibly belonging to Khaba. This pyramid is situated in Zawiyet el-Aryan, located between Giza andAbusir. "The superstructure consist of 14 accretions leaning inwards against a central core"[5] The pyramidwas likely meant to be a 5-step pyramid. The name of King Khaba has been associated to this pyramidbecause the Horus name of the king was found on vases found in a nearby, associated mastaba. Lepsius onlymentions it was poorly constructed.[6]


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Zawiyet el-Meiyitin

Link: Pyramid of Khaba (http://egyptphoto.ncf.ca/Pyramid%20of%20Khaba.htm) Short description with aphotograph of the site.

Lepsius Pyramid No. I

Ruler: Unknown, possibly Huni.Location: Abu RawashDate: end of 3rd dynasty (ca 2530 BC?)Dimensions: ??Materials used: mudbricks

This strange monument is located in Abu Rawash, not too far from the pyramid of the 4th dynasty kingDjedefre. It may be yet another step pyramid, but this is not certain. It is built on a rocky knoll. Lepsiusdescribes it as being covered by a mudbrick pyramid shape and gave it the number I, hence the nameLepsius I. It is nonstandard to have a mudbrick pyramid. A passage opens up to a burial chamber and thegeneral structure resembles a burial chamber in a 4th dynasty pyramid.[5] Lepsius describes a brick wall 17m high, and claims this was one of the largest pyramids and he estimates it must have been about 145 mhigh.[7]

Small Step Pyramids

According Lehner and Verner 7 small provincial step pyramids have been found. They are relatively small insize, and seemingly were not constructed for the purpose of burial. Five of the pyramids are thought topossibly date to the reign of Huni who ruled at the end of the 3rd dynasty, while at least the pyramid at Seilamay have been constructed during the reign of Snefru, the first king of the 4th dynasty.

Location Ruler Dimensions of thebaseSinki Huni ? ca 18.2 m X 18.2 mOmbos Huni ? ca 18.2 m X 18.2 mKula Huni ? ca 18.2 m X 18.2 mEdfu Huni ? ca 18.2 m X 18.2 mElephantine Huni ? ca 23.4 m X 23.4 mSeila Snefru ? ca 25 m X 25 mZawiyet el-Meiyitin Unknown ca. 22.4 m X 22.4 m

True pyramids were first developed during the reign of Snefru and later perfected during the reigns of


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The Meidum pyramid

The Bent Pyramid

Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. The dating for the rulers are taken from Dodson and Hilton.Information about the pyramids is taken from Verner and Lehner.

Pyramid of Meidum

Ancient name: The stable pyramid (?)Ruler: SnefruLocation: MeidumDate: ca 2520 2505 BC and again in ca 2485 2470 BCDimensions: The base measures 144 m, the height was 92 mMaterials used:

Snefru was the first king of the 4th dynasty. It is not known who hisparent were. It is thought that his Queen Hetepheres I may havebeen a daughter of the 3rd dynasty King Huni[4]. Snefru moved theroyal necropolis to Meidum at the beginning of his reign. In his 15thyear he would move the necropolis to Dashur, but would return to

Meidum at the end of his reign.

The core of the pyramid was built using the method of accretions. This is the part we see today. The pyramidof Meidum was the first what we would call true pyramids. I.e. it is no longer stepped in appearance, buthas a flat surface.

On the east side of the pyramid a mortuary temple was constructed using limestone. To the south was a smallsatellite pyramid. Remains of an enclosure wall have been found, as well as a causeway. Associated with thepyramid complex is a (royal) cemetary including for instance the mastaba of the King's Son Nefermaat.[8][5]

The Bent Pyramid

Ancient name:

, or

Snefru is shining (in the South)

Ruler: SnefruLocation: DashurDate: ca 2505 2485 BCDimensions: The base measures 189.45 m, the length of the sides at the bend is 123.58, height of thepyramid is 104.7 m (the lower part is 47.04 m)


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The red Pyramid of Snefru

Materials used: A stone core with a Tura limestone casing

In his 15th year Snefru moves the royal necropolis from Meidum to Dashur. The Bent pyramid is the first oftwo pyramids constructed at that site. This pyramid seems to be the first to have been planned as a truepyramid from the outset. The name of the Bent pyramid refers to the fact that half way during theconstruction the angle of incline was changed from 60 to a little under 54 . After reaching a height of 45meters the angle of incline was further reduced to 45 . The pyramid complex consists of a small chapel madeof Tura limestone, which was later enlarged using mud bricks. A causeway stretches for 210 m and connectsthe pyramid with a valley temple. A small satellite pyramid was constructed to the south of the pyramid. Thesatellite pyramid was built with the new technique of laying courses horizontally. Lehner mentions that thismeant the masons had to cut the slope of the pyramid into the casing stones. There is evidence of masonschipping off the sharp corners of the casing stones and the necessity of patches to mend these chipped edges.[5][8]

The North or Red Pyramid

Ancient name:

Snefru Shines North Pyramid

Ruler: SnefruLocation: DashurDate: ca 2505 2485 BCDimensions: base 220 m 220 m; height 104 m.Materials used: Tura stone was used for the foundation, the core was

made of red limestone from nearby quarries, and the casing was made of Tura limestone.

In Snefru's 30th year the construction of the Red pyramid was initiated. It was planned as a true pyramidform the start and there are no adjustments to the slope like in the Bent pyramid. Not much of the casingremains and the red limestone core is what gives this pyramid its name.

The pyramid was completed before Snefru's death, but the same may not be true of the other components ofthe pyramid complex. The mortuary temples may have been unfinished, as was the causeway. The sattelitepyramid was likely never constructed at all. Remains of a perimeter wall have been found.

The complex may have been finished by Khufu, Snefru's successor. It is believed that Snefru may have beenburied at the Red pyramid. Even though Snefru's Cult was located at the Valley Temple of the Bent Pyramidcomplex.[5][8]

The Great Pyramid or Khufu's Pyramid

Ancient name:

Akhet-Khufu (The horizon (or spirit?) of Khufu)

Ruler: KhufuLocation: Giza


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Khufu's pyramid with small temple

Abu Rawash pyramid

Date: ca 2470 2447 BC

Dimensions: base 230.4 m X 230.4 m; height 146.5 mMaterials used: Limestone

Khufu was the son of King Snefru and Queen Hetepheres I.[4] Khufu likely finished the pyramid complexesof his father at Dashur (and Meidum ?). Khufu moved the royal necropolis to Giza. There he ordered theconstruction of what is now called the Great Pyramid. Khufu may have abandoned Dashur because therewas no room for a large scale pyramid complex, and because there was not enough limestone nearby for theconstruction of the complex.

Part of the core consisted of limestone blocks. Pink granite was used for the burial chamber. Pockets insidethe core were filled with sand and gravel. The casing was created from white limestone excavated from theMuqattam range on the east bank of the Nile.[5][8]

The pyramid complex includes three subsidiary pyramids, sometimes called Queen's pyramids. These smallerpyramids are sometimes lbeled as G Ia, G Ib and G Ic:

G Ia Pyramid of Queen Mother Hetepheres I?The northern most queen's pyamid fas first thought to have belonged to Meritites. But on thebasis of Lehner's work it is now believed that this pyramid was made for the Queen-MotherHetepheres I. This pyramid came with a small mortuary temple and a boat pit. Only ruins remainof the temple and the no boat was fo in the pit. No sarcophagus was found in the pyramid.Funerary equipment for HEtepheres was found in G 7000X.

G Ib Pyramid of Queen Meritites?This pyramid had a boat pit and a small mortuary temple. It is not known who this pyramid wasmeant for, but it is possible that the pyramid belonged to Queen Meritites.

G Ic Pyramid of Queen Henutsen?This pyramid had no boat pit. It is thought to belong to Queen Henutsen. The mortuary templemay have been started as late as the reign of Shepseskaf. On a stela Henutsen is referred to asthe Kings Daughter. It's not clear whose daughter she was. Some experts have pointed out thatG Ic was not part of the original pyramid complex of Khufu (Janosi). It has been suggested thatthe pyramid was added during the reign of Khafre. Some have suggested (Stadelmann forinstance) that Khafre is identical to Prince Khufukhaf I. If so, Khafre could have been a son ofKhufu and Henutsen and he could have added his mother's pyramid to his father's complex.[8][9]

Pyramid at Abu Rawash

Ancient name:

Djedefre sehedu (Djedefre's starry sky)Ruler: DjedefreLocation: Abu RawashDate: ca 2447 2439 BCDimensions: base 106 X 106 m; present height 11.4 m


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North view of Khafre's pyramid

Materials used:

Djedefre moved his necropolis from Giza to Abu Rowash. It is not known why he moved away from thenecropolis established by his father. The erection of the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure shows that therewas room to build more pyramids when Djedefre ruled. Lepsius initially estimated the base of the pyramid tobe 95 m, but more recent work has shown the pyramid had a base of about 106 m. The core of the pyramidwas made of stone. Lepsius mentions a casing of granite at the bottom and Mokattem stone higher up.[10]

Next to the main pyramid the remians of a smaller satellite pyramid have been found. It is not clear if this isa cult pyramid or the burial place of one of Djedefre's wives. Lepsius mentions the satellite pyramid (LepsiusIII) and mentions that it is rather large. He estimated the base to be 60 m.

Unfinished Pyramid (Lepsius XIII)

Ruler: Baka?Location: Zawiyet el-AryanDate: ca 2447 2439 BCDimensions: the core was 180 X 180 m and the total base may have been 200 X 200 mMaterials used: Stone (limestone?)

Lepsius described this pyramid and it's also known as Lepsius XIII. Lepsius estimated the base to be 180 mand he mentions an enclosure wall surrounding the pyramid.[11] Some egyptologists have dated this pyramidto the 3rd dynasty (Nebka or Neferkare), but others (Lehner for instance) date the structure to the 4thdynasty. This later date is based on for instance the use of lage blocks in the burial chamber, and a northsouth oriented plan for the perimeter wall. The pyramid is unfinished and of the superstructure only aplatform with some remains of the structure is preserved. The pyramid may have belonged to Baka, a son ofDjedefre, who may have ruled briefly after his father.[5][8]

Khafre's Pyramid

Ancient name: Wer Khafre

(Great is Khafre)Ruler: KhafreLocation: GizaDate: ca 2437 2414 BCDimensions: base 215.25 X 215.25 m; height 143.5 mMaterials used:

Khafre was a younger son of Khufu. Khafre may have been the son of Queen Meritites. He came to thethrone after the death of his older brothers Kawab (who never ruled) and Djedefre.[4] His brother Djedefreahd moved the royal necropolis to Abu Roash, and Khafre moved it back to Giza where he constructed apyramid next to the one made for his father Khufu.

The pyramid complex includes a mortuary temple, a valley temple, a causeway and the Sphinx. Next to thepyramid there is one subsidiary pyramid.

Subsidiary Pyramid GII a


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Menkaure's pyramid

It is not clear who was buried there. Sealings have been found of a King's eldest son of his body etc and theHorus name of Khafre.[9]

Menkaure's Pyramid

Ancient name: Netjer er

MenkaureRuler: MenkaureLocation: GizaDate: ca 2414 2396 BCDimensions: base 104.6 X 104.6 m; height 66.45 mMaterials used:

Menkaure's pyramid at Giza was called The Netjer-er-Menkaure which means "Menkaure is Divine". Thispyramid is the smallest of the three pyramids at Giza.

Three subsidiary pyramids ("Queen's pyramids")These pyramids are sometimes labeled G-IIIa (East subsidiary pyramid), G-IIIb (Middle subsidiary pyramid)and G-IIIc (West subsidiary pyramid). In the chapel associated with G-IIIa a statue of a Queen was found. Itis possible that these pyramids were meant for the Queens of Khafre. It may be that Queen Khamerernebti IIwas buried in one of the pyramids.

Mastabat el-Fara'un

The Purified Pyramid.

Verner has the name of the monument written with a determinant thatlooks like a truncated pyramid. We tried to copy that here as best wecould.Ruler: ShepseskafLocation: South SaqqaraDate: ca 2396 - 2392 BCDimensions: Base 99.6 x 74.4 mMaterials used: A casing of Turo limestone encased the monument.

Shepseskaf broke with tradition and moved the necropolis to South Saqqara where he erected a Mastabanow called Mastabat Faraun. In antiquity the structure was named Khebu-Shepseskhaf which meansShepseskhaf is purified.

Miroslav Verner mentions that "the entrance to the substructure resembles that of a pyramid more than thatof a mastaba". Jequier suggested that the unusual shape of the tomb was a rejection of the pyramid (as asymbol of Re). There may have been an attempt to stop the increasing influence of the priesthood of Re.Several other egyptologists disagreed. Ricke stated that the obelisk was the symbol of Re, not the pyramid.He suggested the tomb was conceived as a "Buto type" tomb. Muller thought it resembled an enormousstone version of a hut hung with matting.

Stadelman at some point questioned why an archaic form of niches was used. This together with the fact thatthe tomb is not close to Giza, but actually closer to one of Snefru's pyramids. It has been suggested that


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Shepseskaf was the son of a secondary wife of Menkaure and tried to strengthen his claim on the throne byassociating himself with the founder of the 4th dynasty. Another line of thought is that Shepseskaf finishedthe construction of Menkaure and this was a major drain on resources. A large infrastructure was necessaryat Giza to complete Menkaure's pyramid and temple. The tomb of Shepseskaf was started at the Saqqara site,but could not use the full resources of the egyptian state because of the Giza building project that needed tobe finished first. The similarities of the substructure of the Mastabat Fara'un to those of a pyramid couldsuggest that the tomb was meant to become a pyramid.

Link: Mastabat el-Fara'un (http://www.saqqara.nl/saqqara/landmarks/mastabat-el-fara%27un) page onSaqqara Online. According to this site the Mastabat el-Fara'un is a two step pyramid or even just a very largemastaba. The monument may have been made to resemble a Buto shrine.

Toby Wilkinson, Early Dynastic Egypt, 2001, Routledge.1. Stan Hendrickx, Barbara Adams, K M Cialowiez, Egypt at Its Origins, 2005, Peeters.2. David OConnor, Boat graves and pyramid origins: New discoveries at Abydos, Egypt, 1991, Expedition, Vol 3,nr 33, pg 5-17

3.

Aidan Dodson and Dyan Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt: A Genealogical Sourcebookof the Pharaohs, 2004, Thames & Hudson

4.

Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries, 1997, Thames and Hudson5. Lepsius, Denkmahler.6. Lepsius, Denkmahler. Online at [1] (http://edoc3.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/lepsius/textb.html)7. Miroslav Verner, The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments, 1997, GrovePress.

8.

Porter and Moss, Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs, and Paintings;Part III; Pdf version downloaded from gizapyramids.org (http://www.gizapyramids.org/pdf%20library/porter-moss_III_giza.pdf)

9.

Lepsius, Denkmahler. Online at [2] (http://edoc3.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/lepsius/textb.html)10. Lepsius, Denkmahler. Online at [3] (http://edoc3.bibliothek.uni-halle.de/lepsius/textb.html)11.

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