Pyramid of Neferefre (Raneferef)
Pyramid of Raneferef · Unfinished Pyramid of Abusir
Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, Abusir, Egypt
No machine-readable author provided. Neithsabes assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain
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 (Neferefre, 2-year reign)
Initial construction
c. 1239 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8939° N · 31.2017° E · 55 m · 3 mapped features
Mastaba-phase stump
pyramidL-shaped core left as mastaba
29.8939° N · 31.2017° EMudbrick temple east
templeHypostyle hall with statues
29.8936° N · 31.2020° EBoat pits
pitThree symbolic boat pits
29.8937° N · 31.2010° E
Gallery