Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway
Early 4th Dynasty Sneferu (c.2620 BCE) Seila phase·Old Kingdom Sneferu·🇪🇬 Fayum north, Seila, Fayum oasis hill near El Fayoum, Egypt
About
About Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway
Seila excavated by Petrie and Swelim, Sneferu 4th Dynasty provincial 7 pyramids chain. Recorded context — Period: Early 4th Dynasty Sneferu (c.2620 BCE) Seila phase; Culture: Old Kingdom Sneferu; Field status: excavated; Materials: mudbrick, limestone casing; Condition: ruined but causeway trace.
Why it mattersKey Old Kingdom Sneferu pyramid with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Astronomical alignment
- 02Trade network extent
Theories
- 01Defensive stronghold
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. 2620 BCE (Sneferu's Fayum entry marker)
- Period
- Early 4th Dynasty Sneferu (c.2620 BCE) Seila phase
- Culture
- Old Kingdom Sneferu
- Purpose
- Large provincial pyramid (31 m base × 7 m high) with causeway 350 m and offering chapel — Sneferu's Fayum beacon before Meidum
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1892
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 2620 BCE (Sneferu's Fayum entry marker)
Initial construction / first occupation at Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway
c. 400 BCE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway
On the ground
Structures & features
29.3760° N · 31.0540° E · 110 m · 4 mapped features
- Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway — Principal Pyramidpyramidpyramid at Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway — outlier feature29.3742° N · 31.0529° E
- Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway — Chamber Annex 2chamberchamber at Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway — outlier feature29.3765° N · 31.0525° E
- Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway — Southern Causewaycausewaycauseway at Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway — primary structure29.3758° N · 31.0548° E
- Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway — Eastern Pyramidpyramidpyramid at Seila Pyramid — Sneferu Fayum Small Pyramid with Causeway — primary structure29.3760° N · 31.0560° E