Headless Pyramid at Saqqara — Lepsius XXIX South
Headless Pyramid (Lepsius XXIX) · Pyramid Lepsius XXIX · Pyramid of Menkauhor (?)
Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty, c.2400 BCE (Menkauhor or ephemeral king)·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, Egypt
About
About Headless Pyramid at Saqqara — Lepsius XXIX South
Small pyramid Lepsius XXIX (Headless Pyramid) 200 m northeast of Khendjer complex, Saqqara south: 52 m base, now 20 m headless rubble mound, Tura limestone casing entirely robbed. Shaft and substructure intact but empty. Excavated by Cecil Firth 1930, Gustave Jéquier 1929, Hawass-Saqqara SCA 2008 re-excavation. Attributed tentatively to Menkauhor Kaiu (5th Dynasty) whose pyramid unlocated, or late 8th Dynasty. Mudbrick mortuary temple with offering stelae fragments.
Why it mattersKey Ancient Egyptian pyramid with stratified sequence and regional importance.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whose pyramid — Menkauhor's lost pyramid or 8th Dynasty ephemeral king?
- 02Why completely stripped of casing (headless) while neighboring pyramids retain part
Theories
- 01Menkauhor Kaiu 5th Dynasty pyramid relocated south from Abusir
- 02Late Old Kingdom provincial king intruding into Saqqara
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.2390 BCE (Menkauhor Kaiu or 8th Dynasty ephemeral king)
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty, c.2400 BCE (Menkauhor or ephemeral king)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Purpose
- Small stripped pyramid Lepsius XXIX at Saqqara south, completely missing casing and apex (headless), classic archaeological mystery attribution
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2390 BCE
Construction — limestone pyramid with Tura casing
c.2350 BCE
Cult phase — mudbrick temple offerings
1929
Jéquier discovery
2008
Hawass SCA re-excavation reveals substructure
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8325° N · 31.2244° E · 58 m · 2 mapped features
Headless limestone pyramid mound
structureStripped limestone core, north entrance corridor with portcullis intact, apex missing
29.8326° N · 31.2244° EMudbrick mortuary temple east face
templeMudbrick mortuary temple with false door stela foundations, east of pyramid
29.8325° N · 31.2245° E
Gallery