Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid
3rd Dynasty Huni provincial (c. 2670 BCE)·Old Kingdom 3rd Dynasty Huni·🇪🇬 Upper Egypt, near Elephantine/Aswan, Ombos (Naqada site), Egypt
About
About Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid
Ombos provincial surveyed by Kaiser. Recorded context — Period: 3rd Dynasty Huni provincial (c. 2670 BCE); Culture: Old Kingdom 3rd Dynasty Huni; Field status: partially excavated; Materials: sandstone, local granite base; Condition: heavily robbed.
Why it mattersKey Old Kingdom 3rd Dynasty Huni pyramid with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Construction labor organization
- 02Chronology and phasing
Theories
- 01Observatory
- 02Defensive stronghold
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. 2670 BCE
- Period
- 3rd Dynasty Huni provincial (c. 2670 BCE)
- Culture
- Old Kingdom 3rd Dynasty Huni
- Purpose
- Small provincial step pyramid island near Elephantine — border marker pyramid for 1st cataract province
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1897
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
1990 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid
c. 400 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid
c. 2670 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation at Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid
On the ground
Structures & features
25.9400° N · 32.7090° E · 75 m · 4 mapped features
- Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid — Principal Pyramidpyramidpyramid at Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid — outlier feature25.9397° N · 32.7089° E
- Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid — Northern Chamberchamberchamber at Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid — primary structure25.9394° N · 32.7093° E
- Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid — Causeway Annex 3causewaycauseway at Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid — subsidiary complex25.9385° N · 32.7097° E
- Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid — Eastern Pyramidpyramidpyramid at Ombos South Pyramid — Elephantine Provincial Step Pyramid — outlier feature25.9414° N · 32.7072° E