Pyramid of Khui at Dara — Southern Sector
Pyramid of Khui · Dara Pyramid · Pyramid of Khui (Dara)
Old Kingdom — late 8th Dynasty / First Intermediate Period, c.2150 BCE·Ancient Egyptian (Khui)·🇪🇬 Asyut Governorate, Egypt
About
About Pyramid of Khui at Dara — Southern Sector
Unfinished mudbrick step pyramid at Dara (Manfalut) on the west bank north of Asyut: 146 m base, originally step core cased to true pyramid, now 43 m high ruin of mudbrick with limestone casing fragments. Attributed to shadow king Khui (8th Dynasty) by cartouche on blocks found by Petrie, Ahmed Fakhry and Kaiser. Largest provincial First Intermediate pyramid, built directly over Early Dynastic mastabas. Demonstrates persistence of royal pyramid tradition during collapse of Old Kingdom central authority. Excavated by Ahmed Kamal 1912, Kaiser 1980s.
Why it mattersKey Ancient Egyptian (Khui) pyramid with stratified sequence and regional importance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Khui was 8th Dynasty or First Intermediate provincial ruler
- 02Why such enormous base (146 m) never finished
Theories
- 01Provincial kingship maintaining Old Kingdom mortuary ideology during collapse
- 02Unfinished due to brief reign and loss of central resources
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.2150 BCE (Khui, 8th Dynasty, First Intermediate Period)
- Period
- Old Kingdom — late 8th Dynasty / First Intermediate Period, c.2150 BCE
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian (Khui)
- Purpose
- Royal tomb for ephemeral king Khui at Dara; provincial pyramid bridging Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2150 BCE (Khui)
Foundation — mudbrick step core begun over mastaba field
c.2100 BCE
Abandonment — work halted, never cased
1912
Ahmed Kamal first clearance
1986
Kaiser-Dreyer systematic survey
On the ground
Structures & features
27.3078° N · 30.8717° E · 62 m · 2 mapped features
Mudbrick pyramid core and limestone casing
structureStep core of mudbrick with surviving limestone casing blocks bearing cartouche fragments of Khui
27.3078° N · 30.8716° ESubterranean burial chamber and descending corridor
chamberUnfinished substructure: rock-cut descending corridor leading to burial chamber under pyramid centre, with portcullis slot
27.3077° N · 30.8717° E
Gallery