El-Lisht (Itj-tawy necropolis)
El-Lisht
Middle Kingdom (12th Dyn)·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, south of Cairo near Itj-Tawy, Egypt
About
About El-Lisht (Itj-tawy necropolis)
El-Lisht is the necropolis of the new Middle Kingdom capital Itj-tawy (Hawara of Amenemhat I seized kingship 1990 BCE) — paired pyramids of Amenemhat I (pyramid 85) 55 m high now mud-mound and Senwosret I (pyramid 62) 61 m high with intact limestone core and causeway, each with enclosure, queens' pyramids and 34 shaft tombs of viziers. Senwosret I pyramid's interior alabaster offering slab 6 m deep is finest. North pyramid causeway with reliefs of Amun procession. Excavated by Gautier-Jéquier 1894 and Dieter Arnold/MMA 1984–.
Why it mattersOnly dual-royal necropolis of a relocated capital Itj-tawy; Senwosret I pyramid texts link reunification theology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Amenemhat I burial vs cenotaph debate due to water infiltration
- 02Itj-tawy palace location nearby under fields
Theories
- 01El-Lisht limestone reused Old Kingdom causeways deliberately as legitimizing archaism (Allen)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1981–1926 BCE 12th Dyn Amenemhat I and Senwosret I
- Period
- Middle Kingdom (12th Dyn)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Builders
- Amenemhat I / Senwosret I teams
- Purpose
- New-capital necropolis legitimizing Theban 12th Dyn over Memphis
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c.1981–1926 BCE 12th Dyn Amenemhat I and Senwosret I
Initial construction
c. 1333 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
29.5605° N · 31.2211° E · 45 m · 3 mapped features
Pyramid of Senwosret I
pyramid105 m base 61 m pyramid with alabaster substructure
29.5610° N · 31.2220° EPyramid of Amenemhat I
pyramid85 m mudbrick pyramid of founder
29.5700° N · 31.2225° ECauseway of Senwosret I
temple250 m causeway with Amun reliefs
29.5600° N · 31.2230° E