| Headless Pyramid | |
|---|---|
| Menkauhor (probably)Merikare (possibly) | |
| Coordinates | 29°52′31″N 31°13′25″E / 29.87528°N 31.22361°E |
| Ancient name | |
| Constructed | Fifth Dynasty (probably)Tenth Dynasty (possibly) |
| Type | True (now ruined) |
| Material | Limestone |
| Base | ~ 52 m (171 ft; 99 cu)[4][3] ~ 60 m (200 ft; 110 cu)[5] ~ 65 m (213 ft; 124 cu) by 68 m (223 ft; 130 cu)[6] |
  Location within Lower Egypt | |
The Headless Pyramid, otherwise identified as Lepsius XXIX, is the remain of a pyramid complex built in Saqqara. The identity of the pyramid owner is unclear, though it is suspected to belong to either pharaoh Menkauhor of the Fifth Dynasty[a] or pharaoh Merikare of the Tenth Dynasty,[b] both of whom are known to have built a pyramid. If associated with Menkauhor, the pyramid's name is Nṯr-ỉswt Mn-kꜣw-ḥr meaning 'Divine are the places of Menkauhor'; if associated with Merikare, the pyramid's name is Wꜣḏ-swt Mry-kꜣ-rꜥ meaning 'Fresh are the places of Merikare'. Other candidates for the pyramid owner that have been proposed are Amenemhat I of the Twelfth Dynasty[c] and an ephemeral pharaoh Ity of the Eighth Dynasty.[d]
The pyramid complex is in very poor condition. Only the main pyramid, its substructure, and the mortuary temple can be definitively identified. Trace elements of a cult pyramid and a causeway exist, however, there is no sign of an extant valley temple. The base of the pyramid superstructure has been measured by various Egyptologists as being 52 m (171 ft; 99 cu), 60 m (200 ft; 110 cu), or 65 m (213 ft; 124 cu) by 68 m (223 ft; 130 cu) long. Its substructure was thoroughly investigated between 2005 and 2008 by a team of archaeologists led by Zahi Hawass. Their findings included lowered portcullis gates indicating a burial had taken place, a sarcophagus lid built of schist, and holes cut into the burial chamber floor presumed to have held canopic jars.
- ^ Verner 2001, p. 322.
- ^ von Beckerath 1984, pp. 62 & 192.
- ^ a b Lehner 2008, p. 165.
- ^ Hawass 2010, p. 155.
- ^ Lepsius 1970, p. 188.
- ^ Verner 2001, p. 464.
- ^ Clayton 1994, p. 60.
- ^ Shaw 2003, p. 482.
- ^ a b c Allen et al. 1999, p. xx.
- ^ a b c d Krauss & Warburton 2006, p. 491.
- ^ Theis 2010, p. 333.
- ^ Dodson & Hilton 2004, p. 288.
- ^ a b c Shaw 2003, p. 483.
- ^ Theis 2010, p. 335.
- ^ Dodson & Hilton 2004, p. 289.
- ^ Clayton 1994, p. 78.
- ^ Lehner 2008, p. 8.
- ^ Grimal 1992, p. 391.
- ^ Wilkinson 2010, p. xv.
- ^ Theis 2010, p. 329.
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