Pyramid of Senwosret II at El-Lahun — Northern Annex
Pyramid of Senwosret II · El-Lahun Pyramid · Pyramid of Sesostris II
Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1890 BCE (Senwosret II / Sesostris II)·Ancient Egyptian (Senwosret II)·🇪🇬 Faiyum Governorate, Egypt
About
About Pyramid of Senwosret II at El-Lahun — Northern Annex
Pyramid of Senwosret II at Illahun (El-Lahun) desert edge Faiyum: 48 m high mudbrick pyramid (107 m base) with limestone casing, northern annex enclosure and 8 queen's pyramids (including Queen Nofret). Hypogeum is labyrinthine rock-cut with granite sarcophagus and quartzite foundation deposit by Petrie-Brunner. Workers' town Kahun (El-Lahun) nearby founded for builders. Petrie 1889-90. Unusual: entrance hidden in pavement south not north. Lahun papyri (Prisse, veterinary). Marks Middle Kingdom Faiyum reclamation associated with Bahr Yussef canal. North annex is queen's complex variant.
Why it mattersKey Ancient Egyptian (Senwosret II) pyramid with stratified sequence and regional importance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Why hidden southern entrance rather than classic north — security innovation
- 02Water relation — Faiyum canal and pyramid location on alluvial fan
Theories
- 01Senwosret II pyramid as first Faiyum pyramid inaugurating Middle Kingdom land reclamation program
- 02Northern annex as queen's parallel pyramid for Great Wife Nofret practicing double pyramid model
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.1890 BCE (Senwosret II Khakheperre, 12th Dynasty)
- Period
- Middle Kingdom, 12th Dynasty, c.1890 BCE (Senwosret II / Sesostris II)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian (Senwosret II)
- Purpose
- 12th Dynasty mudbrick pyramid (48 m high) at Illahun (El-Lahun) on Faiyum edge with rock-cut labyrinth hypogeum and queen's pyramid — Petrie's Illahun, with workers' town Kahun and northern annex pyramid enclosure
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1890 BCE (Senwosret II)
Pyramid begun — mudbrick core and northern annex
c.1875 BCE
Burial — granite sarcophagus sealed by quartzite lid
1889
Petrie discovery and Kahun town clearance
On the ground
Structures & features
29.2420° N · 30.9550° E · 42 m · 2 mapped features
Mudbrick pyramid with labyrinth hypogeum
pyramid107 m mudbrick pyramid 48 m high with hidden south entrance to rock-cut labyrinth, granite sarcophagus, quartzite portcullis
29.2420° N · 30.9550° ENorthern annex queen's pyramid enclosure
enclosureNorthern annex 100×80 m enclosure with small queen pyramid (Nofret) and rock-cut tombs of princesses
29.2422° N · 30.9551° E