Pyramid of Khuit — Queen of Teti
Pyramid of Queen Khuit · Khuit Pyramid at Saqqara
Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Memphis Necropolis, Saqqara North, Egypt
About
About Pyramid of Khuit — Queen of Teti
Adjacent queens pyramid directly north-west of Teti pyramid, built for Queen Khuit (Khuyt), second principal wife of Teti. Slightly smaller than Iput I, the pyramid shares the same plan: descending corridor, antechamber and burial chamber oriented east-west, with Pyramid Texts. Excavated by Loret and re-examined by Hawass in 1990s, it yielded fragmentary reliefs and a granite sarcophagus lid. Enclosure contains small satellite and courtyard delimited by mudbrick wall abutting Teti’s enclosure.
Why it mattersPairing with Iput I illustrates 6th Dynasty queens pyramid tradition and early distribution of Pyramid Texts to royal women.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Identity of Khuit’s parentage
Theories
- 01Khuit may have been mother of Userkare, ephemeral successor of Teti
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
- Burial monument for Queen Khuit, wife of Teti
- Excavation
- Excavated
1898
Loret discovers Khuit pyramid
1995
Zahi Hawass re-excavates and consolidates pyramid
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8748° N · 31.3193° E · 61 m · 2 mapped features
Substructure and Pyramid Texts
chamberInscribed burial apartments with Texts for the queen
29.8748° N · 31.3194° EQueens enclosure and wall
enclosureMudbrick enclosure abutting Teti causeway
29.8747° N · 31.3193° E