Pyramid of Pepi I
Pyramid of Pepy I · Men-nefer-Pepy
Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, South Saqqara, Egypt
About
About Pyramid of Pepi I
Large 6th Dynasty pyramid at South Saqqara (78.75 × 78.75 m base, 52.5 m high), most intact Pyramid Texts ( >2,300 lines) giving royal afterlife spells. Complex with seven subsidiary queen pyramids (notably Nubwenet, Inenek-Inti). Excavated by French Mission with extensive administrative papyri archive.
Why it mattersLargest corpus of Pyramid Texts; queen pyramids illustrate 6th Dynasty queenship.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Multiple queen pyramids sequence
Theories
- 01Long reign allowed complete text program and multiple consort burials
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. 2332–2283 BCE (long reign 49-50 years)
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Purpose
- Tomb of Pepi I and queens
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
c. 2332–2283 BCE (long reign 49-50 years)
Initial construction
c. 1372 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8544° N · 31.2189° E · 55 m · 3 mapped features
Burial chamber – West wall Pyramid Texts
chamberWell preserved spells
29.8544° N · 31.2189° EQueen Pyramid of Nubwenet
subsidiary pyramidEastern subsidiary pyramid
29.8540° N · 31.2195° EMortuary Temple
templeEastern temple remains
29.8542° N · 31.2190° E
Gallery