El-Kula Pyramid
Pyramid of el-Kula · Naga el-Mamariya Pyramid · Hierakonpolis Small Pyramid
Old Kingdom, 3rd Dynasty, ~2630 BCE·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Qena/Aswan (6 km north Hierakonpolis/Nekhen, near Naga el-Mamariya), Egypt
About
About El-Kula Pyramid
Northernmost? Actually central minor step pyramid 6 km north of Hierakonpolis near Naga el-Mamariya (c.2630 BCE Huni). Belongs to seven provincial set with Elephantine, Edfu South, Ombos, Zawyet el-Maiyitin, Seila, Sinki. Rough limestone 3 steps, 18.6 m base, 8.3 m high today, built on gravel terrace overlooking Hierakonpolis predynastic capital. Traditionally linked to Hierakonpolis as archaic cult validation. Found 1949 by Farid in survey, excavated Kaiser-Dreyer 1970s.
Why it mattersHierakonpolis link shows Huni legitimation via archaic capital.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2630 BCE, late 3rd Dynasty (Huni)
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 3rd Dynasty, ~2630 BCE
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Builders
- Ancient Egyptian (Huni, Hierakonpolis governor)
- Purpose
- Cult of kingship at sacred predynastic centre of Nekhen — legitimation
- Abandoned
- c.2600 BCE
- Rediscovered
- 1949 Farid survey; 1973 Kaiser-Dreyer recording
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2630 BCE
Construction on terrace north of Nekhen
1949
Farid notes pyramid near Naga el-Mamariya
1973
Kaiser surveys 18.6 m base and confirms provincial group
On the ground
Structures & features
25.1121° N · 32.8275° E · 75 m · 2 mapped features
El-Kula step core
pyramid18.6 m base three steps
25.1121° N · 32.8275° ETerrace approach
platformGravel terrace edge overlooking Nile floodplain west
25.1124° N · 32.8278° E