Overview:

The Pyramid of Unas is the last of the ancient Egyptian Pyramids to be constructed and is the first Pyramid to include Pyramid Texts – religious writings on the interior walls of the pyramid, written in hieroglyphs. Located at Saqqara, near Cairo, the Pyramid of Unas was built during the 5th Dynasty (2494 BC - 2345 BC). The Pyramid is about 20 meters (65 feet) high, and has a limestone façade. The interior features a burial chamber and a descending corridor. The walls of the corridors have a series of pictographs. The Pyramid Texts, written in hieroglyphs, were intended to be a guide for the deceased Pharaoh as he passed through the afterlife. The texts include information about the Pharaoh’s life, death, and rebirth, and are believed to be the earliest known religious writings. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt
Prominent Features:

1. Inscribed Pyramid Texts: Unas is the earliest pyramid to contain the pyramid texts, a series of spells and hymns that were meant to provide protection and instruction for the king’s spirit in the afterlife.These are inscribed within the palace of Unas and are the oldest corpus of religious works known to man. 2. High Quality Limestone: The pyramid of Unas was made from high quality limestone. This is reflected in the fact that it still stands today after almost 4500 years! 3. Divine Benben Stone: At the top of the pyramid stands the Benben stone which was thought to represent the primeval mound where creation originally began. It also stands as an embodiment of the gods and symbolizes divine power. 4. Pyramid Shape: The pyramid of Unas is an example of a step pyramid, which is thought to be the earliest form of pyramid building. It is composed of six tiers and each tier has a slightly different angle. This accumulation of steps is designed to bring stability to the pyramid and also help to lengthen the incline of the pyramid to a more manageable degree. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Egypt.

History:

The Pyramid of Unas is located at Saqqara in Egypt. Unas was the final king of the 5th dynasty and ruled for around 30 years, from 2375-2345 BC. His pyramid is the smallest of all of the Old Kingdom pyramids, and was once encased in white limestone. Its entrance is located on the north side near ground level and leads down a corridor which eventually opens up into four rooms. The burial chamber was located at the end of another corridor inside the substructure. The walls of the pyramid are decorated with the earliest known copies of the Pyramid Texts, some of the oldest known religious writings in Egypt. These texts contain spells and prayers from which Unas could benefit even after death. There were also chapels located in the East and West of the pyramid, these are believed to have been dedicated to the Kings Ka (life-force) and Ba (soul). The Pyramid of Unas is one of the oldest surviving monuments of ancient Egypt, and is an important part of its history and culture. Visit one of the famous monuments of Egypt with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Pyramid of Unas is located at Saqqara in Egypt and is the last of the ancient Egyptian pyramids. 2. It was built for Pharaoh Unas, who ruled from 2375 to 2345 BC during the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt. 3. This pyramid is the smallest of all the pyramids of the Old Kingdom, measuring only 43 meters in height and 95 meters in length. 4. Inside the pyramid are more than 240 stelae and an elegant causeway that runs from the mortuary temple to the entrance of the pyramid. 5. Ancient Egyptians believed that Pharaoh Unas would become an ascendant god after his death, hence the design of the pyramid was directed to internal rituals instead of its external ascension. 6. Unas’s pyramid stands out from other pyramids due to its inscriptions on the walls. It is the first pyramid to have its interior inscribed with Coffin Texts and Pyramid Texts, which are some of the oldest religious texts known today. 7. The pyramid of Unas is often referred to as the “missing link” in pyramid architecture due to its transitional geometry, which combines the classic step-pyramid design of earlier pyramids with the smooth-sided true pyramids of later pyramids. One of the historical monuments of Egypt, it tells the story of a bygone era