Pyramid of Neferefre (Raneferef)
Pyramid of Raneferef · Unfinished Pyramid of Abusir
Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, Abusir, Egypt
About
About Pyramid of Neferefre (Raneferef)
Unfinished pyramid of ephemeral 5th Dynasty king Neferefre (Raneferef) at Abusir: square base 65 m, only first step completed to ~7 m (planned 52 m). Czech excavations by Verner since 1980 revealed intact mudbrick mortuary temple, three small boat pits, statues of king (pink limestone and basalt) and extensive papyri and ritual slaughter archives – most complete 5th Dynasty cult complex despite aborted pyramid.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Extremely short reign epidemiology
Theories
- 01Sudden death halted construction; quickly converted to square mastaba for burial
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. 2448–2445 BCE (Neferefre, 2-year reign)
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Purpose
- Unfinished tomb of Neferefre; completed as mastaba
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 2448-2445 BCE
Construction abandoned after the king's early death; completed as a square mastaba stump
1902-08
Surveyed by the Borchardt (Deutsche Orient-Gesellschaft) expedition
1980-
Verner (Czech Institute of Egyptology) excavates the cult temple, statues and papyri archives
2015
Tomb of Queen Khentkaus III found in the cemetery southeast of the complex
1979
Inscribed as part of Memphis and its Necropolis UNESCO World Heritage Site (id 86)
On the ground
Structures & features
Gallery