Pyramid of Sesheshet — Mother of Teti
Pyramid of Queen Sesheshet · Teti’s Mother Pyramid
Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Memphis Necropolis, Saqqara North, Egypt
About
About Pyramid of Sesheshet — Mother of Teti
Pyramid discovered November 2008 by Zahi Hawass south-east of Teti pyramid near the Gisr el-Mudir area after locating the causeway of Bubastis branch. Though badly ruined and robbed, the superstructure preserved towering 5 m walls, chapel foundations and white limestone casing fragments. Burial chamber looted but fragments of sarcophagus lid remained. Inscriptions confirm owner Sesheshet, mother of Teti whose parentage legitimized Teti’s accession after Unas. The discovery solved a long search for the queen’s tomb known from Papyrus Ebers and reliefs.
Why it mattersProved legitimacy narrative of 6th Dynasty founder; newest major pyramid found at Saqqara before satellite survey era.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Original height and decoration
Theories
- 01Deliberately modest size reflects transitional early 6th Dynasty economy
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 BCE (under Teti)
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Purpose
- Tomb of Queen Sesheshet, mother of Teti, linking 5th–6th Dynasty
- Excavation
- Excavated
2008-11-08
Discovery announced by SCA, Zahi Hawass
2010
Consolidation and protective covering installed
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8762° N · 31.3190° E · 64 m · 2 mapped features
Pyramid core and casing
pyramidLower courses and foundation with limestone casing footings
29.8762° N · 31.3191° EMortuary chapel footings
templeEast-side chapel with altar base and pavement
29.8761° N · 31.3190° E