Pyramid of Iput I — Queen of Teti
Pyramid of Queen Iput I · Pyramid of Iput I at Saqqara
Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Memphis Necropolis, Saqqara North, Egypt
About
About Pyramid of Iput I — Queen of Teti
Small queens pyramid immediately north of the Pyramid of Teti at Saqqara, built for Queen Iput I, daughter of Unas and wife of Teti, mother of Pepi I. Excavated by Victor Loret (1897–99) and later by Firth and Gunn, the substructure contained a pink-granite sarcophagus inscribed for the queen, canopic equipment and remains of burial. Like other 6th Dynasty queens pyramids, walls of the burial chamber and antechamber were inscribed with Pyramid Texts, confirming royal status. The pyramid stands in a small enclosure with offering chapel and courtyard, adjacent to the pyramid of Queen Khuit.
Why it mattersClose genealogical link between late 5th and early 6th Dynasty; Pyramid Texts in a queen's pyramid demonstrate extension of royal afterlife privilege.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of construction relative to Teti pyramid
- 02Degree of original decoration lost to stone robbery
Theories
- 01Built after Teti’s death under Pepi I to honor his mother
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. 2345–2333 BCE
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Purpose
- Queens pyramid for Iput I, mother of Pepi I, north of Teti pyramid
- Excavation
- Excavated
1897
Victor Loret excavates pyramid of Iput I
1920s
Cecil Firth and Battiscombe Gunn clear enclosure and chapel
1965
Jean-Philippe Lauer restores causeway area
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8750° N · 31.3195° E · 62 m · 2 mapped features
Burial chamber with sarcophagus
chamberGranite sarcophagus inscribed for Iput I; Pyramid Texts on walls
29.8751° N · 31.3195° EOffering chapel and courtyard
templeSmall mortuary temple east of pyramid with offering niche and pavement
29.8749° N · 31.3194° E