Overview:

is the remains of a step pyramid built during the Third Dynasty. It is located in the necropolis of Saqqara and is believed to have been built by the Pharaoh Sekhemkhet. The structure was initially thought to be the first that the Egyptians built, but later it was established that the Pyramid of Djoser is older. The pyramid is similar in structure to the Pyramid of Djoser, but slightly smaller, and the components of the exterior of the pyramid have been eroded by the passage of time. The structure consists of a rectangular substructure that rises at an angle of 56 degrees to about 10 m high and a large enclosure wall. Inside the enclosure are pyramidions, obelisks, and stone sarcophagi that were found inside the structure. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt
Prominent Features:

The Pyramid of Sekhemkhet at Saqqara in Egypt is located at the south end of the complex of Djoser’s step pyramid. It is an unfinished, stepped pyramid which rises to a height of about 60 feet (18 m). The pyramid is made of mud and brick and is thought to be the earliest of the so-called ‘true’ or ‘classical’ pyramids. The pyramid is shorter than the step pyramid at Saqqara, but it is in a better state of preservation. Remarkably, the entrance to the centre of the pyramid has been uncovered, with a burial chamber and a corridor leading down to it. The burial chamber is complete but no coffin and burial items were found. The inside of the pyramid has clearly been plundered by grave robbers. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Egypt.

History:

The pyramid of Sekhemkhet at the site of Saqqara is located in the Dahshur necropolis, in modern Egypt. It is believed to have been built for the third dynasty pharaoh Sekhemkhet who ruled in the 26th century BCE. Sekhemkhet was the second king to rule over a united Egypt and the pyramid was likely constructed near the end of his reign. Historians believe the pyramid was designed to echo the now famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. It was constructed with an outer layer of smooth limestone blocks which were draw from the nearby Tura quarry. This layer was paired with a second inner core also made of limestone which was likely drawn from the Mokattam hills which run along the Giza plateau. The structure had a smooth slope with seven steps and a rather shallow entrance which may have been symbolic of Sekhemkhet’s brief reign. The primary purpose of the structure was to serve as a burial place for the pharaoh Sekhemkhet, although his mortal remains have never been found. The pyramid is believed to also have served as a temple where priests could perform rituals and offerings to the gods, as well as a monument to the royal power of ancient Egypt. This monument has suffered severe erosion and was not completely excavated until the 19th century, when archaeologists discovered its ruins. It was rediscovered and investigated by Flinders Petrie in 1923. Unfortunately, the ruins have largely been destroyed, with only one side of the pyramid remaining today. As of 2020, it has still not been fully reconstructed, leaving it as one of the most incomplete ancient Egyptian monuments. Visit one of the famous monuments of Egypt with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Pyramid of Sekhemkhet at Saqqara is the burrial location of Pharaoh Sekhemkhet who ruled during Egypt’s Third Dynasty from around 2649 to 2630 BC. 2. The pyramid is thought to have been partially completed, but became unstable and had to be abandoned soon after. 3. It is believed that Sekhemkhet had commissioned his pyramid to be built in the same location as King Djoser’s Step Pyramid (in the Saqqara necropolis), likely in an effort to replicate and surpass this monument, albeit in a smaller scale. 4. The pyramid of Sekhemkhet is sometimes referred to as the Buried Pyramid due to the fact that most of it is still hidden from view. 5. The Pyramid of Sekhemkhet was the first pyramid to have a mortuary temple near its base, remarkably similar to that of Djoser’s, including an entrance corridor lined with stone blocks and a pillared hall. 6. The pyramid of Sekhemkhet is the earliest pyramid to have chambers located underground. 7. The chambers, which were located approximately 70 meters beneath the pyramid, have yet to be fully explored. 8. One of the unique features of the Pyramid of Sekhemkhet is its shape. Unlike Djoser’s Step Pyramid and most of the pyramids that followed, Sekemkhet’s pyramid is an oval, with the four main corners cutting outward in a curved fashion. 9. During the 19th century, French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette discovered the Pyramid of Sekhemket at Saqqara, which he believed to be the tomb of Pharaoh Userkaf, who ruled Egypt during the Fifth Dynasty. 10. Mariette’s theory was debunked in the 1950s when Egyptologist Zakaria Goneim uncovered a number of artifacts indicating the tomb belonged to an earlier Pharaoh—which was later identified to be Sekhemkhet. One of the historical monuments of Egypt, it tells the story of a bygone era