Southern Mazghuna Pyramid
South Mazghuna Pyramid · Pyramid of Sobekneferu (?) · Mazghuna South Pyramid
Late 12th to early 13th Dynasty (Sobekneferu / Ameny Qemau, c.1795–1785 BCE)·Ancient Egyptian (late Middle Kingdom)·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, 0.8 km south of Northern Mazghuna at Mazghuna, west of Nile south of Dahshur, Egypt
About
About Southern Mazghuna Pyramid
Southern companion unfinished pyramid at Mazghuna (late 12th/early 13th Dynasty, Sobekneferu or Ameny Qemau c.1790 BCE). Mudbrick mass 52.5 m base (identical to North), with enclosure, causeway embankment east, and substructure with quartzite portcullis and monolithic quartzite chamber 3.5×2.2 m. Decorated with niche-work. Excavated Mackay 1910, Arnold re-analysis. Closer to completion than North but still uncased; no superstructure casing laid; causeway descends to dry valley.
Why it mattersTwin to North Mazghuna showing late Middle Kingdom double-project; Sobekneferu female pharaoh link via Qasr el-Sagha temple alignment 56 km (Uphill 2018).
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Sobekneferu vs Khendjer vs Ameny Qemau ownership
- 02Why identical base to North but different chamber finish
Theories
- 01Parallel projects for successor couple; abandoned together at Second Intermediate collapse
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.1790 BCE (Sobekneferu, provisional)
- Period
- Late 12th to early 13th Dynasty (Sobekneferu / Ameny Qemau, c.1795–1785 BCE)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian (late Middle Kingdom)
- Purpose
- Unfinished royal pyramid for female pharaoh Sobekneferu or Ameny Qemau — southern twin
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.1790 BCE (Sobekneferu, provisional)
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1200–600 BCE
Major use phase and refurbishment
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
29.7600° N · 31.2215° E · 43 m · 3 mapped features
Southern Mazghuna mass
pyramid52.5 m mudbrick pyramid with eastern causeway
29.7600° N · 31.2215° EQuartzite monolithic chamber
chamber3.5×2.2 m quartzite burial chamber with lid
29.7598° N · 31.2213° EEastern causeway embankment
causeway200 m causeway embankment toward valley
29.7601° N · 31.2220° E
Gallery