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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Lepsius L
The Lepsius L Pyramid is the remain of a pyramid complex built in Dahshur, approximately 250 m (820 ft) east of the Red Pyramid of pharaoh Sneferu of the Fourth Dynasty. The identity of the pyramid owner is unknown. The site was initially visited by Karl Richard Lepsius during his 1842–45 expedition to Egypt. He provided a brief description and catalogued it as 'Steinpyramide L' in his pyramid list. The site was then excavated by Rainer Stadelmann in 1986.

Pyramid complex

Lepsius measured the base of the pyramid as being 85 m (279 ft; 162 cu) square; Stadelmann measured it as being 40 m (130 ft). Lepsius further identified a path leading towards the Red Pyramid which may have been the pyramid's causeway. He also noted the presence of a necropolis adjoining the pyramid's north side. Stadelmann discovered large limestone blocks that are presumed to have been intended for the pyramid's substructure, a mudbrick construction ramp, and the remains of Fourth Dynasty era pottery.

Ownership

Ludwig Borchardt and Stadelmann have ascribed the pyramid to Menkauhor of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt, though this identification is contested. Borchardt cites a royal decree issued by Pepi I of the Sixth Dynasty that was uncovered in the pyramid town of Sneferu's Red Pyramid and mentions Menkauhor's pyramid as supporting the assignment:

M17G43V24G43N35U36F35D21
N35		 W25N35
X1		 A1A1A1V30
D21		 M8G1D46G43A24G17D21
Z1		 O1
N35		 <
G5M17D28G43
>R8Q1Q1Q1O24
ỉw wḏ-n ḥnỉ nfr-n ỉnt rmt nb r šꜣdw m rꜣ-pr n nṯr-ỉswt Ỉkꜣu-Ḥr
My Majesty commands that no one shall be sent to dig in the temple of the pyramid 'Divine are the place of Ikauhor'

Menkauhor is, however, also associated with the Headless Pyramid in Saqqara, another pyramid with contested ownership. This attribution is supported by Jean-Philippe Lauer and Jean Leclant because the displacement of the causeway of Teti's pyramid indicates that the Headless Pyramid was built earlier; Vito Maragioglio and Celeste Rinaldi because of the manner of the construction of the Headless Pyramid's substructure follows the Fifth Dynasty pattern; and Zahi Hawass based on the architectural style of the pyramid complex and the extensive use of quality materials typical of the era.

Dieter Arnold after examining a re-used block from Amenemhat I's pyramid believed to originate from Menkauhor's pyramid determined that it originated from neither Lepsius XXIX nor Lepsius L and concluded that Menkauhor's pyramid was yet to be uncovered, probably in South Saqqara.

References

  1. ^ Lehner 2008, p. 101.
  2. ^ Lepsius 1970, pp. 3, 205, & 207.
  3. ^ Lepsius 1970, p. 207.
  4. ^ Stadelmann & Sourouzian 1982, pp. 382–383.
  5. ^ Stadelmann 2001, p. 354.
  6. ^ Verner 2001, p. 188.
  7. ^ Borchardt 1905, pp. 1–3 & 7–8.
  8. ^ Porter & Moss 1981, p. 876.
  9. ^ Borchardt 1905, pp. 7–8.
  10. ^ Verner 2001, pp. 332–333.
  11. ^ Hawass 2010, p. 157.
  12. ^ Verner 2001, p. 333.
  13. ^ Wright 2008.
  14. ^ Hawass 2010, p. 159.
  15. ^ Hawass 2010, p. 158.

Sources

  • Borchardt, Ludwig (1905). "Ein Königserlaß aus Dahschur". Zeitschrift für Ägyptische Sprache und Altertumskunde (in German). 41–42 (1): 1–42. ISSN 2196-713X.
  • Hawass, Zahi (2010). "The excavation of the headless pyramid, Lepsius XXIX". Perspectives on ancient Egypt : studies in honor of Edward Brovarski. Cairo: Supreme Council of Antiquities. pp. 153–170. ISBN 9789777040877.
  • Lehner, Mark (2008). The Complete Pyramids. New York: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 978-0-500-28547-3.
  • Lepsius, Karl Richard (1970) [1849]. Denkmäler Aus Ägypten und Äthiopen (in German). Osnabrück: Biblio Verlag. OCLC 84318033.
  • Porter, Bertha; Moss, Rosalind (1981) [1927]. Málek, Jaromír (ed.). The Topographical Bibliography of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Texts, Reliefs, and Paintings. Vol. III, 2 (2nd ed.). Oxford: Griffith Institute, Ashmolean Museum. ISBN 0-900416-238.
  • Stadelmann, Rainer; Sourouzian, Hourig (1982). "Die Pyramiden des Snofru in Dahschur. Erster Bericht über die Ausgrabungen an der nördlichen Steinpyramide". Mitteilungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts, Abteilung Kairo (in German). 38: 379–393. ISSN 0342-1279.
  • Stadelmann, Rainer (2001). "Dahshur". In Redford, Donald B. (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, Volume 1. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 354–356. ISBN 978-0-19-510234-5.
  • Verner, Miroslav (2001). The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments. New York: Grove Press. ISBN 978-0-8021-1703-8.
  • Wright, Jonathan (2008). "Eroded pyramid attributed to early pharaoh". Reuters. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
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