Pyramid of Neferirkare
| Pyramid of Neferirkare | |
|---|---|
| Neferirkare Kakai | |
| Coordinates | 29°53′42″N 31°12′09″E / 29.89500°N 31.20250°E |
| Ancient name | |
| Constructed | Fifth Dynasty |
| Type | Step pyramid (originally) True pyramid (converted) |
| Material | Limestone[3] |
| Height | 52 metres (171 ft; 99 cu)[4] (Step pyramid) 72.8 metres (239 ft; 139 cu)[5] (True pyramid, original) |
| Base | 72 metres (236 ft; 137 cu)[4] (Step pyramid) 105 metres (344 ft; 200 cu)[5] (True pyramid) |
| Volume | 257,250 m3 (336,470 cu yd)[6] |
| Slope | 76°[4] (Step pyramid) 54°30′[5] (True pyramid) |
Location within Lower Egypt | |
The pyramid of Neferirkare (Egyptian: Bꜣ Nfr-ỉr-kꜣ-rꜥ, lit. 'The ba of Neferirkare'[5]) is a pyramid complex built in the 25th century BC for the Egyptian pharaoh Neferirkare Kakai of the Fifth Dynasty.[7][a] It is the tallest, highest-situated structure in the Abusir necropolis – located between Giza and Saqqara – over which it still towers. The Fifth Dynasty marked the end of the great pyramid constructions that had prevailed during the Fourth Dynasty. Pyramids of the era were smaller and the complexes followed a standardized template, though this coincided with the proliferation of intricate relief decoration.
Neferirkare's main pyramid deviated from contemporary convention. It was originally built as a step pyramid, a design that had been antiquated since the Third Dynasty in the 26th or 27th century BC.[b] This was then encased in a second step pyramid with alterations introduced to convert it into a true pyramid;[c] However, the king's death left this work to be completed by his successors. The work was done in haste using cheaper building material. The pyramid had a base length of 105 metres (344 ft; 200 cu) which converged towards the apex at ~54° indicating that in a completed state it may have reached ~72 m (236 ft; 137 cu) in height. In its incomplete state, it is similar in its proportions to the pyramid of Menkaure on the Giza plateau.
Because of the circumstances, Neferirkare's monument lacked several basic elements of a pyramid complex: a valley temple, a causeway, and a cult pyramid. The valley temple and causeway were under construction when Neferirkare died, but these were co-opted by Nyuserre for his own complex. Instead, these were replaced by a small settlement of mudbrick houses south of the monument from where cult priests could conduct their daily activities, rather than from the usual pyramid town that was typically built near the valley temple. The discovery of the Abusir papyri in the 1890s is owed to this, as the papyrus archives were normally contained in the town where the siting near the Nile river would have ensured their destruction.
The pyramid complex eventually became part of a greater family cemetery. The monuments to Neferirkare's consort, Khentkaus II; and his sons, Neferefre and Nyuserre, are found in the surrounding area. Though their construction began under different rulers, all of these monuments were completed during the reign of Nyuserre.
- ^ Borchardt 1909, p. 4.
- ^ a b c Altenmüller 2001, p. 598.
- ^ Verner 2001e, p. 291.
- ^ a b c Verner 2001e, p. 463.
- ^ a b c d Arnold 2003, p. 160.
- ^ Bárta 2005, p. 180.
- ^ a b Verner 2001c, p. 589.
- ^ Clayton 1994, p. 30.
- ^ a b Shaw 2003, p. 482.
- ^ a b Allen et al. 1999, p. xx.
- ^ a b Lehner 2008, p. 8.
- ^ Dodson & Hilton 2004, p. 288.
- ^ Grimal 1992, p. 389.
- ^ Arnold 2003, p. 265.
- ^ Verner 2001e, p. 473.
- ^ Dodson & Hilton 2004, p. 287.
- ^ Verner 2001d, pp. 87, 89.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).