Pyramid of Userkaf
Pyramid of Wserkaf
Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, Saqqara North, Egypt
No machine-readable author provided. Neithsabes assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain
About
About Pyramid of Userkaf
Founder's pyramid of 5th Dynasty at Saqqara, 49 m base, 18 m high (originally 49 m), badly ruined rubble mound east of Djoser enclosure. Introduced smaller pyramids and nearby Sun Temple at Abusir; substructure with basalt sarcophagus and 5th Dynasty Pyramid Texts precursors. Marks decentralization and rising Re cult.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Relation to nearby Sun Temple at Abu Gorab
Theories
- 01Shift to Re worship reduced pyramid scale
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. 2494–2487 BCE
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Purpose
- Tomb of Userkaf (founder 5th Dynasty)
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2494–2487 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1140 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8736° N · 31.2189° E · 65 m · 3 mapped features
Pyramid core
pyramidRubble core
29.8736° N · 31.2189° EMortuary Temple South
templeT-shaped temple unusually south
29.8733° N · 31.2189° ESun Temple valley? (Abu Gorab)
sun templeAssociated Sun Temple 2 km north
29.9040° N · 31.1950° E
Gallery