Headless Pyramid

Headless Pyramid
Menkauhor (probably)
Merikare (possibly)
Coordinates29°52′31″N 31°13′25″E / 29.87528°N 31.22361°E / 29.87528; 31.22361
Ancient name
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Nṯr-ỉswt Mn-kꜣw–ḥr
Netjer-isut Menkauhor
'Divine are the places of Menkauhor'[1]
or
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wꜣḏ-swt Mry-kꜣ-rꜥ
Wadj-sut Merikare[2]
'Fresh are the places of Merikare'[3]
ConstructedFifth Dynasty (probably)
Tenth Dynasty (possibly)
TypeTrue (now ruined)
MaterialLimestone
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]
Headless Pyramid is located in Lower Egypt
Headless Pyramid
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.

  1. ^ Verner 2001, p. 322.
  2. ^ von Beckerath 1984, pp. 62 & 192.
  3. ^ a b Lehner 2008, p. 165.
  4. ^ Hawass 2010, p. 155.
  5. ^ Lepsius 1970, p. 188.
  6. ^ Verner 2001, p. 464.
  7. ^ Clayton 1994, p. 60.
  8. ^ Shaw 2003, p. 482.
  9. ^ a b c Allen et al. 1999, p. xx.
  10. ^ a b c d Krauss & Warburton 2006, p. 491.
  11. ^ Theis 2010, p. 333.
  12. ^ Dodson & Hilton 2004, p. 288.
  13. ^ a b c Shaw 2003, p. 483.
  14. ^ Theis 2010, p. 335.
  15. ^ Dodson & Hilton 2004, p. 289.
  16. ^ Clayton 1994, p. 78.
  17. ^ Lehner 2008, p. 8.
  18. ^ Grimal 1992, p. 391.
  19. ^ Wilkinson 2010, p. xv.
  20. ^ Theis 2010, p. 329.


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