Lepsius XXIV
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

The Lepsius XXIV Pyramid was an Egyptian
pyramid A pyramid () is a structure whose visible surfaces are triangular in broad outline and converge toward the top, making the appearance roughly a pyramid in the geometric sense. The base of a pyramid can be of any polygon shape, such as trian ...
, which was probably built for a wife of King
Nyuserre Ini Nyuserre Ini (also Niuserre Ini or Neuserre Ini; in Greek language, Greek known as Rathurês, ''Ῥαθούρης''; died 2422 BC) was an Ancient Egyptian pharaoh, king, the sixth ruler of the Fifth dynasty of Egypt, Fifth Dynasty during the Ol ...
. The largely destroyed 5th Dynasty structure is located in the pyramid field of
Abusir Abusir (  ; Egyptian ''pr wsjr'' ' "the resting place of Osiris"; ) is the name given to an ancient Egyptian archaeological pyramid complex comprising the ruins of 4 kings' pyramids dating to the Old Kingdom period, and is part of the ...
, east of the Pyramid of Neferefre and south of the Pyramid of Khentkaus II.


Exploration

On his Prussian Expedition to Egypt, the German archaeologist
Karl Richard Lepsius Karl Richard Lepsius (; 23 December 181010 July 1884) was a German people, Prussian Egyptology, Egyptologist, Linguistics, linguist and modern archaeology, modern archaeologist. He is widely known for his opus magnum ''Denkmäler aus Ägypten ...
identified a small pyramid site and gave it the number XXIV (24) in his list of pyramids.
Ludwig Borchardt Ludwig Borchardt (5 October 1863 – 12 August 1938) was a German Egyptologist. He is best known for finding a famous bust of Nefertiti at Amarna. __NOTOC__ Life Born in Berlin in 1863 into a well-established Jewish family, Borchardt was t ...
, who explored the necropolis of Abusir six years later, considered the ruins to be a
mastaba A mastaba ( , or ), also mastabah or mastabat) is a type of ancient Egyptian tomb in the form of a flat-roofed, rectangular structure with inward sloping sides, constructed out of mudbricks or limestone. These edifices marked the burial sites ...
or double mastaba and did not investigate it further. A Czech team led by
Miroslav Verner Miroslav Verner (born 31 October 1941) is a Czech egyptologist, who specializes in the history and archaeology of Ancient Egypt of the Old Kingdom and especially of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt. Verner is a specialist on the archaeology of the O ...
undertook exploratory excavations from 1980-1981, 1987, and 1990, as well as a full excavation in 1994 and identified the complex as a pyramid with a cult pyramid and a
mortuary temple Mortuary temples (or funerary temples) were temples that were erected adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, royal tombs in Ancient Egypt. The temples were designed to commemorate the reign of the Pharaoh under whom they were constructed, as well as f ...
, which they assigned to the time of the 5th dynasty King Nyuserre.Czech Institute of Egyptology
Pyramid "Lepsius no. XXIV"
/ref>


Identification

The inhabitant of the pyramid can not yet be identified, since no direct evidence, like inscriptions, remain. It is probable, however, that Nyuserre had the pyramid built for one of his wives, perhaps Reptynub.


Pyramid

With a base measuring 31.5 m x 31.5 m and a slope of 60°15′, the Lepsius XXIV Pyramid originally had a height of 27.3 meters. The core structure of the pyramid was built in three layers, according to recent research. The masonry of the first layer consists of a stone casing, with the interior filled with sand, rubble and debris. A ramp structure oriented north–south and extending into the core structure was probably used for the erection of this layer. The second layer again consists of an outer stone casing with several partition walls at oblique angles, made up of irregularly shaped stone fragments. The space between was also filled with loose debris in the same way as the first layer. The third layer no longer exists. According to Verner, the mixed technique increased stability. A cladding of fine limestone appears to have been attached later, since the masonry of the mortuary temple touches the first core layer directly. The masonry of the pyramid displays a large amount of construction graffiti. These graffiti regularly mention the
Vizier A vizier (; ; ) is a high-ranking political advisor or Minister (government), minister in the Near East. The Abbasids, Abbasid caliphs gave the title ''wazir'' to a minister formerly called ''katib'' (secretary), who was at first merely a help ...
Ptahshepses, who organised all royal construction under Nyuserre, which indicates that the pyramid was built during his reign.


Substructure

The substructure was laid out as an open grave, which was eventually covered over by the pyramid. The entranceway ran from the north and led to a burial chamber on an east–west orientation. The passageway has been largely been quarried away. The burial chamber contained fragments of a
pink granite Granite ( ) is a coarse-grained (phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies undergro ...
sarcophagus A sarcophagus (: sarcophagi or sarcophaguses) is a coffin, most commonly carved in stone, and usually displayed above ground, though it may also be buried. The word ''sarcophagus'' comes from the Greek language, Greek wikt:σάρξ, σάρξ ...
, parts of the grave goods and the damaged
mummy A mummy is a dead human or an animal whose soft tissues and Organ (biology), organs have been preserved by either intentional or accidental exposure to Chemical substance, chemicals, extreme cold, very low humidity, or lack of air, so that the ...
of a woman aged about 23, whose identity is unknown. She was probably the owner of the pyramid, but it is also possible that she is an intrusive burial from a later period, since the remains of the mummy show traces of the removal of the brains, a mummification practice which is only attested from the beginning of the Middle Kingdom. An accurate dating of the mummy by
Radiocarbon dating Radiocarbon dating (also referred to as carbon dating or carbon-14 dating) is a method for Chronological dating, determining the age of an object containing organic material by using the properties of carbon-14, radiocarbon, a radioactive Isotop ...
is not yet available. The name of the tomb's occupant is not attested.
Miroslav Verner Miroslav Verner (born 31 October 1941) is a Czech egyptologist, who specializes in the history and archaeology of Ancient Egypt of the Old Kingdom and especially of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt. Verner is a specialist on the archaeology of the O ...
: ''Die Pyramiden'', pp.355 ff ''Die Pyramide «Lepsius Nr. XXIV»''
In addition, the area of the burial chamber contains fragments of grave goods, like
alabaster Alabaster is a mineral and a soft Rock (geology), rock used for carvings and as a source of plaster powder. Archaeologists, geologists, and the stone industry have different definitions for the word ''alabaster''. In archaeology, the term ''alab ...
vessels, copper tools for the
opening of the mouth ceremony The opening of the mouth ceremony (or ritual) was an ancient Egyptian ritual described in funerary texts such as the Pyramid Texts. From the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Old Kingdom to the Roman Egypt, Roman Period, there is ample evidence of this cerem ...
and
canopic jar Canopic jars are funerary vessels that were used by the Ancient Egypt, ancient Egyptians to house embalmed organs that were removed during the mummification process. They also served to store and preserve the viscera of their soul for the afterl ...
s.


Complex

In the pyramid complex ruins, a small cult pyramid and a funerary temple can be identified. The whole complex was surrounded by a wall.


Cult pyramid

In the south corner of the complex is a small cult pyramid with a base of about 10 x 10 metres, which has largely been destroyed by extensive
spolia ''Spolia'' (Latin for 'spoils'; : ''spolium'') are stones taken from an old structure and repurposed for new construction or decorative purposes. It is the result of an ancient and widespread practice (spoliation) whereby stone that has been quar ...
tion. Only some fine limestone cladding from the northwest corner and the west side remain intact. The orientation of these structures differs a little from the north–south orientation of the main structure.


Mortuary temple

The mortuary temple is located in the usual position on the east side of the pyramid and seems to have had a simple structure. Except for a
false door A false door, or recessed niche, is an artistic representation of a door which does not function like a real door. They can be carved in a wall or painted on it. They are a common architectural element in the tombs of ancient Egypt, but appeared p ...
on the side facing the pyramid, it seems unlikely that the temple was decorated with
relief Relief is a sculpture, sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''wikt:relief, relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give ...
s, since no fragments of relief were found at all. The structure was largely destroyed by spoliation in the
New Kingdom New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 ** "New" (Paul McCartney song), 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, 1995 * "New" (Daya song), 2017 * "New" (No Doubt song), 1 ...
and the Saite Period, especially on the south side, and as a result a reconstruction is no longer possible.


See also

*
List of Egyptian pyramids This list presents the vital statistics of the pyramids listed in chronological order, when available. See also * Egyptian pyramids * Great Sphinx of Giza * Lepsius list of pyramids * List of Egyptian pyramidia * List of finds in Egyptian pyr ...


References


Bibliography

*
Miroslav Verner Miroslav Verner (born 31 October 1941) is a Czech egyptologist, who specializes in the history and archaeology of Ancient Egypt of the Old Kingdom and especially of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt. Verner is a specialist on the archaeology of the O ...
: ''Die Pyramiden.'' Rowohlt, Hamburg 1998, , pp. 355 ff.: ''Die Pyramide «Lepsius Nr. XXIV».''


External links

* Czech Institute of Egyptology
Pyramid "Lepsius no. XXIV"


* ttp://egyptphoto.ncf.ca/Lepsius%20XXIV.htm Egyptphoto website with some photo of the pyramid. {{DEFAULTSORT:Lepsius-24-Pyramide Buildings and structures completed in the 25th century BC Buildings and structures completed in the 24th century BC Pyramids of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt Buildings and structures in Giza Governorate Abusir 3rd-millennium BC establishments in Egypt 1840s archaeological discoveries