Mazghuna South Pyramid
Southern Mazghuna Pyramid · Amenemhat IV Pyramid? · Mazghuna South (Sobekneferu?)
Middle Kingdom, late 12th Dynasty, ~1795 BCE·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, Dahshur south (Mazghuna, 400 m south of north pyramid), Egypt
About
About Mazghuna South Pyramid
Southernmost of Mazghuna pair, 400 m south of northern pyramid (12th–13th Dynasty, c.1795 BCE). Base also 52.5 m, similar mudbrick and corridor design but slightly different internal layout — wavy limestone wall trench. Attributed by Petrie to Amenemhat IV (c.1798 BCE) and by Theis to same, complementing northern Sobekneferu. Finds include wooden inner coffin fragments, canopic jar stopper inscribed for Amenemhat IV(?), but not conclusive. More denuded than northern, preserved to 5 m but corridor less collapsed.
Why it mattersSibling pair demonstrates dynastic succession crisis; wavy wall is chronological marker for Amenemhat III–Sobekneferu horizon.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Wooden coffin fragments — was Amenemhat IV ever interred?
Theories
- 01Sequential construction north then south — Sobekneferu completed brother's and started own
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.1795 BCE, early 13th Dynasty or late 12th (Amenemhat IV)
- Period
- Middle Kingdom, late 12th Dynasty, ~1795 BCE
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Builders
- Ancient Egyptian (Amenemhat IV, sibling to Sobekneferu)
- Purpose
- Royal tomb paired with northern, representing joint sibling succession at end Middle Kingdom
- Abandoned
- c.1790 BCE unfinished, coffin fragments suggest burial preparation but not completed
- Rediscovered
- 1910 Mackay, 1911 Petrie surveys both in single season
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1795 BCE
Foundation 400 m south of northern pyramid, shared causeway axis
1911
Petrie records similar 52.5 m base and wavy wall technique
2009
Theis attributes south to Amenemhat IV based on masonry joints
On the ground
Structures & features
29.7040° N · 31.2510° E · 44 m · 3 mapped features
- South pyramid mudbrick corepyramid52.5 m base mudbrick mass with wavy foundation trench29.7040° N · 31.2510° E
- Wavy limestone foundation trenchfoundationUndulating (wavy) limestone wall trench 1.2 m deep encircling base — chronological marker29.7038° N · 31.2512° E
- Canopic stopper findspotdepositLocation 10 m south where limestone canopic stopper fragment attributed to Amenemhat IV found29.7035° N · 31.2510° E
Gallery