Lepsius I Pyramid
Lepsius Pyramid I · Abu Rawash Lepsius I · Mudbrick Pyramid of Huni?
Old Kingdom, 3rd–4th Dynasty transition (~2613 BCE)·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate (Abu Rawash, north of Djedefre), Egypt
About
About Lepsius I Pyramid
Mysterious unfinished giant mudbrick pyramid at Abu Rawash documented as Lepsius I (1842–45 Karl Richard Lepsius), 1 km north of Djedefre's pyramid (4th Dynasty). Huge 400+ m base? Actually northern mound c.150–200 m base estimated, preserved as 17 m high mudbrick stump with narrow descending corridor leading to square chamber. Built of mudbrick without stone casing, attributed by some to Huni (3rd Dynasty) due to size comparable to Khufu planning, but also possibly early 4th Dynasty. Never completed; rubble heap now overlies. Excavated by Swelim and Hawass 1990s–2000s confirmed mudbrick layers and corridor.
Why it mattersLargest mudbrick pyramid in Egypt; shows scale experiment before Giza true stone pyramids; demonstrates raw material choice (mudbrick vs stone) at transition.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Exact intended base size — 150 vs 400 m — and whether stone casing was ever started
Theories
- 01Huni's planned northern pyramid to complement southern Seila — unified kingdom marker
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.2613 BCE, end 3rd–early 4th Dynasty (Huni or Sneferu?)
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 3rd–4th Dynasty transition (~2613 BCE)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Builders
- Ancient Egyptian (Huni or Sneferu precursor to Giza)
- Purpose
- Royal tomb abandoned when Meidum/Dahshur chosen; tests mudbrick giant scale before true stone pyramids
- Abandoned
- c.2610 BCE unfinished when project moved to Giza plateau
- Rediscovered
- 1842 Lepsius catalogues as Pyramid I, stump 17 m; 1990s Nabil Swelim remeasures
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.2613 BCE
Massive mudbrick core construction over desert ridge north of Abu Rawash
1842–45
Lepsius surveys and draws plan, lists as Pyramid I
1990s
Swelim re-excavates corridor and chamber, confirms mudbrick technique
2015
Hawass team fences site due to quarry encroachment
On the ground
Structures & features
30.0350° N · 31.0950° E · 90 m · 3 mapped features
Mudbrick stump core
pyramid17 m high eroded mudbrick mass with inclined courses
30.0350° N · 31.0950° EDescending corridor and chamber
corridorNarrow limestone-lined corridor descending to near-square 4×4 m chamber under core
30.0352° N · 31.0952° ENorthern foundation levelling
platformLimestone chip levelling deposit north face where base expanded
30.0355° N · 31.0948° E
Gallery