29°51′04″N 31°13′15″E / 29.85111°N 31.22083°E
| Haram el-Shawaf (The Sentinel) |
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|---|---|---|
| Djedkare Isesi | ||
| Ancient Name | Beautiful is Djedkare-Isesi | |
| Constructed | 5th Dynasty | |
| Type | True pyramid (ruined) | |
| Base | 78.60 metres | |
| Slope | 52° | |
The pyramid of Egyptian pharaoh Djedkare-Isesi was built at South Saqqara in the fifth dynasty. The translation of its ancient Egyptian name is Beautiful is Djedkare.[1] The pyramid was the first one to be built south of the main Saquara necropolis. Today the pyramid is referred to as 'The Sentinel' (el-Shawaf) by the locals.[2]
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The complex includes the main pyramid, a satellite pyramid and an associated pyramid which is probably that of his unnamed consort, and is hence known as The Pyramid of the Unknown Queen.[3]
The core of the pyramid was composed of six steps of irregularly shaped limestone blocks.[2] Its original height was around 52 m. The angle of inclination was 52° and it has a base length of 78.75 m.[4]
Despite extensive counter measures which included three huge portcullises slabs, plunderers were still able to penetrate to the burial chamber.[2]
The pyramid was first explored in 1880 by Gaston Maspero. In the 1940s the pyramid was excavated by Abdel Salam Hussein (his work on the site was never published).[2]
Upon entrance of the burial chamber a smashed dark grey basalt sarcophagus was discovered, a mummy estimated to belong to a fifty year old man was found amongst the debris. This discovery indicated that Djedkare-Isesi must have been very young when he ascended the throne given his 32+ year reign.[2]
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