300:
292:
29:
213:. The buried pyramid was originally modelled after Djoser's step pyramid and is located several hundred metres southwest. It is also arguable that the pyramid of Sekhemkhet was originally designed to surpass the step pyramid of Djoser but barely made it above ground level and hence was given the name the Buried Pyramid. Its incompletion is thought to have been due to Sekhemkhet's short reign as ruler, which was approximately six years.
726:
222:
366:
The burial chamber has a base measurement of 8.8 m × 5.18 m (28.9 ft × 17.0 ft) and a height of 4.5 m (15 ft). It was also left unfinished, yet it contained a complete burial arrangement. The sarcophagus is cut from a single block of fine alabaster; its lid was
407:
The enclosure walls had a niches similar to the one on the walls of the Djoser complex, and was clad with Tura limestone that has been preserved in the first north wall, as they had been filled with the extension. The walls were about ten meters high. Work on the extension walls may have been halted
390:
In 1963, J. P. Lauer found, offset from the center to west axis of the pyramid and under a mastaba-like structure with dimensions 32 m × 16 m (105 ft × 52 ft), the foundations of the so-called South Tomb. It stands closer to the pyramid itself than in the complex of his
237:
noticed the odd rectangular shape in the desert while excavating the nearby Unas complex. A three part rubble-coursed enclosure wall was first discovered, and by digging to its bottom, it was found to be 5.2 m (17 ft) tall and 18 m (60 ft) thick. He later discovered that the wall
394:
In the substructure of the mastaba, following a passage accessed by a vertical shaft, the excavators unearthed a chamber where they found a wooden coffin with the remains of an unidentified two-year-old child. It is certain the child is not
Sekhemkhet himself, since he is represented as an adult in
264:
When the blocked wall was breached, on May 31, 1954, an unfinished and undecorated burial chamber was discovered. Inside it, lay an alabaster sarcophagus cut from a single block with a vertical lid which seemed to still be sealed. However, on June 26, 1954, after great difficulties to unblock and
330:
The ancient name of
Sekhemkhet's pyramid is unknown; however, it is colloquially known as Buried Pyramid due to its unfinished nature as well as it being previously unknown until its discovery in 1952, when it was found beneath the sands. Its present state is more similar to a
354:
The entrance to the subterranean structure lies to the north, starting with a narrow passage that descends for about 61 m (200 ft) until meeting a vertical shaft from the top of the corridor. At this spot, another passage leads down to a row of 136 unfinished
345:
As the pyramid was unfinished, it never received its limestone casing, but the construction technique can be still be made out: the limestone blocks are inclined inwards by 15°, with sloping courses of stone laid at right angles to the incline.
375:
The complex is oriented with a north-south axis, but with an accuracy deviation of about 11°. One notable feature of this complex is an inner wall known as "White Wall" made out of limestone covered with red mason's lines and graffiti.
283:. Lauer did indeed find a partially destroyed tomb under the southern side that at some point had been looted by robbers. He found a wooden coffin with the remains of an unidentified two-year-old child and gold leaf fragments.
335:, only reaching 2.43 m (8 ft) of height. The pyramid's foundations stand upon an uneven rock surface, leading the builders to try to level the terrain by building terraces, some reaching ten metres high.
379:
It remain unknown whether
Sekhemkhet's complex would include any mortuary temples or other features also found in Djoser's complex. Its unfinished state presents difficulty for such conjectures.
338:
The pyramid was to be stepped right from its inception. With a base 115 metres (377 ft) in length, it suggests that, if it had been completed, the superstructure would be taller than
1542:
238:
further extended on both sides to dimensions of 520 m (1,700 ft) in the north-south axis and 180 m (600 ft) to the east-west and was full of false doors and niches.
609:
1552:
241:
The pyramid itself was located at the centre of the complex, with a base length of 115 m (377 ft), it had only one step and was unfinished. During the next stage of
863:
1337:
1557:
1537:
1495:
1532:
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1416:
1324:
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Criticism of Goneim and his subsequent apparent suicide on
January 12, 1959, dampened the interest in the pyramid and investigation was left incomplete.
646:
318:
The name
Imhotep appears on a section of the complex's enclosure wall. While the name itself contains no titles and thus it is uncertain if this is the
935:
1673:
363:
galleries appear right before the entrance to the burial chamber with a similar disposition, like their counterparts, they were never finished.
52:
617:
694:
1402:
561:
1627:
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1458:
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399:. Also found were animal bones, stone vessels and gold jewelry from the Third Dynasty, as well as traces of a robbery of the tomb.
1668:
322:
that planned Djoser's Step
Pyramid, the line of succession and similar architectural features suggest such a possibility.
249:. There were a number of objects found during the excavation of this gallery including animal bones, demotic papyri, and
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1166:
752:
729:
1342:
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523:
485:
687:
303:
A hoard of 21 gold bracellets and a shell shaped container found in
Sekhemkhet's pyramid tomb on display at the
225:
Ivory plaque found in 1955 by Z. Goneim on the floor of the main hall of the pyramid and bearing the Nebty name
1388:
192:
1547:
1524:
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638:
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245:, Goneim discovered a descending passage to the north side which led to a gallery blocked with rubble and
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191:. Many historians believe that the third dynasty played an important role in the transition from
198:
The pyramid may be visited, but the public is not allowed access to the base and substructures.
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during the first stages of construction, or else their Tura limestone casing was later stolen.
250:
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100:
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1102:
897:
877:
233:
The Buried
Pyramid was a previously unknown structure until, in 1951, Egyptologist
1210:
1132:
1114:
449:
Lehner, Mark, "The
Complete Pyramids – Solving the Ancient Mysteries", 1997 p. 84
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367:
vertical, slid into place and held at the front face by means of mortar sealing.
315:, and it includes a pyramid, a subterranean structure, and a necropolis complex.
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28:
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due to the possibility of a south tomb and his desire to find the missing
918:
266:
515:
477:
1642:
1407:
201:
Sekhemkhet
Djoserty was also the successor to the better-known pharaoh
165:
36:
1477:
1020:
257:, gold was discovered which included gold bracelets, cosmetic cases,
672:
1395:
332:
319:
312:
246:
210:
169:
311:
Sekhemkhet's pyramid complex was built southwest of Djoser's at
1318:
904:
610:"Em Hotep Digest vol. 02 no. 03: Djoser's Step Pyramid Complex"
356:
202:
1632:
280:
187:–2613 BC and is usually placed at the beginning of the
359:
which forms a U shape around the pyramid. Two further such
269:
was opened and to everyone's disappointment, it was empty.
258:
221:
342:, with seven steps and rising to 70 metres (230 ft).
295:Schematical depiction of Sekhemkhet's step pyramid
1660:
382:The actual entrance to the complex is unknown.
936:Unfinished Northern Pyramid of Zawyet el'Aryan
467:Goneim, Zakaria, "The Lost Pyramid", 1956 p.40
688:
261:, and jars inscribed with Sekhemkhet's name.
554:"King Sekhemkhet and his Pyramid at Saqqara"
157:) is an unfinished step pyramid constructed
695:
681:
275:In 1963, the excavation was re-opened by
298:
290:
220:
1674:Pyramids of the Third Dynasty of Egypt
1661:
751:
742:
702:
676:
370:
725:
1523:
253:stone vessels. In a decayed wooden
13:
14:
1690:
402:
724:
27:
660:
649:from the original on 2018-02-11
639:"Pyramid Complex of Sekhemkhet"
631:
602:
593:
584:
575:
564:from the original on 2018-02-10
526:from the original on 2018-03-05
488:from the original on 2018-03-05
438:Oxford History of Ancient Egypt
349:
205:, who was buried in his famous
121:Planned 70 metres (230 ft)
1669:Ancient Egyptian step pyramids
546:
537:
508:
499:
470:
461:
452:
443:
430:
286:
193:Early Dynastic Period of Egypt
1:
423:
395:reliefs from Wadi Maghara in
385:
181:
158:
124:Reached 8 metres (26 ft)
87:
229:and a list of linen fabrics.
195:to the Age of the Pyramids.
7:
599:Goneim, Zakaria, 1956 p.141
590:Goneim, Zakaria, 1956 p.104
543:Goneim, Zakaria, 1956 p.167
516:"The Mystery of Sekhemkhet"
478:"The Mystery of Sekhemkhet"
411:
180:, which reigned over Egypt
10:
1695:
325:
216:
1618:
1593:
1578:
1508:
1368:
1274:
1256:
1241:
1219:
1180:
1165:
1123:
1030:
887:
792:
777:
738:
715:List of Egyptian pyramids
710:
418:List of Egyptian pyramids
139:
131:
114:
106:
96:
83:
46:
35:
26:
21:
581:Lehner, Mark, 1997 p. 94
458:Lehner, Mark, 1997 p. 94
135:115 metres (377 ft)
1628:Construction techniques
666:Lehner, Mark, 1997 p.94
505:Lehner, Mark, 1997 p.94
101:Unfinished step pyramid
1543:Sekhemre-Wepmaat Intef
1389:Southern South Saqqara
308:
296:
230:
1167:1 Intermediate Period
302:
294:
224:
155:Pyramid of Sekhemkhet
22:Pyramid of Sekhemkhet
189:Old Kingdom of Egypt
168:. He was the second
1510:Second Intermediate
958:Mastabet el-Fara'un
277:Jean-Philippe Lauer
265:raise the lid, the
166:Sekhemkhet Djoserty
162: 2645 BC
64: /
1553:Senakhtenre Ahmose
643:Egyptian Monuments
520:www.catchpenny.org
482:www.catchpenny.org
371:Necropolis complex
309:
297:
231:
143:50°36' (estimated)
1656:
1655:
1614:
1613:
1574:
1573:
1548:Nubkheperre Intef
1504:
1503:
1237:
1236:
1161:
1160:
773:
772:
769:
768:
704:Egyptian pyramids
558:www.touregypt.net
153:(also called the
147:
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68:29.866°N 31.213°E
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305:Egyptian Museum
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1606:
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1585:(1570–1070 BC)
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1566:
1565:
1560:
1555:
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1515:(1650–1570 BC)
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1352:South Mazghuna
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1303:
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1286:
1280:
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1248:(2040–1650 BC)
1243:Middle Kingdom
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1234:
1232:
1231:
1225:
1223:
1217:
1216:
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1213:
1208:
1203:
1201:Neferkare Neby
1198:
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1190:
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1172:(2181–2040 BC)
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1162:
1159:
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784:(2686–2181 BC)
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645:. 2009-02-18.
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560:(in Russian).
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403:Enclosure wall
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320:same architect
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235:Zakaria Goneim
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620:on 2018-02-10
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391:predecessor.
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1284:Amenemhat I
1062:Neferirkare
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836:Elephantine
779:Old Kingdom
436:Shaw, Ian,
287:The complex
267:sarcophagus
185: 2686
84:Constructed
71: /
47:Coordinates
41:3rd Dynasty
1663:Categories
1643:Pyramidion
1325:Neferuptah
1289:Senusret I
1078:Unfinished
843:Edfu South
653:2018-02-26
624:2018-02-26
568:2018-02-26
530:2018-02-26
492:2018-02-26
424:References
386:South Tomb
243:excavation
59:31°12′47″E
56:29°51′58″N
37:Sekhemkhet
1153:Sesheshet
1072:Neferefre
1021:Lepsius L
822:Lepsius I
614:Em Hotep!
357:galleries
110:Limestone
1383:Khendjer
1229:Merikare
1104:Headless
1084:Nyuserre
947:Menkaure
930:Djedefre
829:Athribis
761:Pyramids
647:Archived
562:Archived
524:Archived
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412:See also
361:magazine
227:Djeserty
107:Material
1679:Saqqara
1403:SAK S 7
1396:SAK S 3
1148:Pepi II
1143:Merenre
1040:Userkaf
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753:Dynasty
730:Commons
719:Lepsius
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313:Saqqara
247:masonry
217:History
211:Saqqara
172:of the
170:pharaoh
1603:Ahmose
1563:Kamose
1473:DAS 53
1466:DAS 51
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1452:DAS 49
1445:DAS 46
1319:Hawara
1138:Pepi I
1097:Double
1057:Sahure
942:Khafre
905:Meidum
857:Naqada
808:Buried
802:Djoser
744:Period
255:casket
203:Djoser
115:Height
1638:Texts
1633:Seked
1595:XVIII
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1312:Black
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925:Khufu
898:Seila
878:Sinki
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815:Layer
397:Sinai
281:mummy
259:beads
140:Slope
1525:XVII
1491:S 10
1370:XIII
1211:Khui
1185:VIII
1133:Teti
1115:Unas
1014:G3-c
1007:G3-b
1000:G3-a
993:G2-a
986:G1-d
979:G1-c
972:G1-b
965:G1-a
912:Bent
164:for
149:The
132:Base
97:Type
1486:S 9
1276:XII
1206:Ibi
1196:Ity
919:Red
794:III
209:at
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