Pyramid complex of Unas in Sakkara
nfr-swt-wnis (Beautiful are the [cult] places of Unas)
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A - three magazines
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Pyramid
Beautiful
are
the [cult] places of Unas
is the smallest one of those built in times of Old Kingdom. Its eastern
part is located over tomb of Hotepsekhemwi. The
core consisted of six layers, built of rough blocks of local limestone
that became gradually smaller as they neared the top of the pyramid. The
casing was made, as usual, of carefully dressed blocks of fine white
limestone.
From the middle of northern wall descends 14,4 m long causeway leading to
connecting chamber, next running 14,1 m horizontally (with three
traps) and finally ending in antechamber (3,8 m x 3,1 m). From the last,
in eastern direction one can get to magazine while in western direction
– to funerary chamber (3,1 m x 7,3 m) with basalt sarcophagus and
alabaster casing. Its two-side sloped roof is decorated with stars.
Pyramid of Unis was the first pyramid possessing walls covered with
Pyramids Texts, the oldest sacred book in the history. |
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A - entrance chapel |
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Mortuary
temple of Unas
was decorated with reliefs and located on eastern side of the pyramid.
It consists of vestibule, open-air courtyard with columns crowned with
palm-shaped capitals, causeway running across and proper temple of
posthumous cult. The last is composed of chamber with niches,
antechamber, a hall of posthumous cult and magazines. Cult pyramid is
placed south-east. A roofed,
720 m
long ramp connects lower and upper mortuary temple and is decorated with
scenes presenting making offerings of exotic animals and scenes
describing craftsmen life. |
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Gallery-tomb B of Hotepsekhemwi, the ruler of dynasty II, with pyramid of Unas erected above it. The tomb is 120 m long and 40 m wide. It consisted over 70 chambers. Superstructure of the tomb has not survived until now but it is known that it resembled a long, massive mastaba (R.Stadelmann). |
Copyright © 2000-2013 Dariusz Sitek, Czestochowa - Chicago - Ann Arbor |