Pyramid of Khentkaus II (Abusir)
Khentkaus II Pyramid · Pyramid of the Queen Mother Khentkaus II · Abusir Khentkaus II complex
Old Kingdom (5th Dynasty)·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, Abusir pyramid field — between Neferirkare and Neferirkare’s queens, Egypt
No machine-readable author provided. Neithsabes assumed (based on copyright claims). · Public domain
About
About Pyramid of Khentkaus II (Abusir)
Queen-mother pyramid of Khentkaus II (wife of Neferirkare, mother of Raneferef and Nyuserre, 5th Dynasty c. 2475–2445 BCE) at Abusir, long mis-identified as a double mastaba until Miroslav Verner's Czech Institute clearance 1978–90 revealed a true pyramid ~25 × 25 m base (50 cubits), 12 m high, stepped core then cased as true pyramid. Complex with east mortuary temple, satellite pyramid, enclosure and columned court with star ceilings. Papyrus fragments from its temple archive document endowment collapse.
Base of small limestone core with mudbrick upper. Shows elevation of queen-mother from mastaba to pyramid status parallel to Khentkaus I at Giza. Well preserved temple with alabaster altar.
Why it mattersOnly 5th-Dynasty queen-mother pyramid excavated with full complex and papyrus archive; links reigns of Neferirkare–Raneferef–Nyuserre succession crisis.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Length of Khentkaus II regency
- 02Why temple archive abandoned
Theories
- 01Nyuserre completed mother's pyramid to legitimize succession over Raneferef's son
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. 2475–2445 BCE (Neferirkare–Nyuserre, 5th Dynasty)
- Period
- Old Kingdom (5th Dynasty)
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Builders
- Neferirkare / Nyuserre for Khentkaus II
- Purpose
- Queen-mother pyramid tomb of Khentkaus II
- Rediscovered
- 1978 (Miroslav Verner, Czech Abusir Expedition)
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 2475–2445 BCE (Neferirkare–Nyuserre, 5th Dynasty)
Initial construction
c. 1195 CE
Major expansion
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8961° N · 31.2006° E · 60 m · 3 mapped features
Khentkaus II pyramid core
pyramid25 m pyramid mass
29.8961° N · 31.2006° EMortuary temple east
templeStar-ceiling temple and altar
29.8960° N · 31.2010° ESatellite pyramid SE
pyramidSmall subsidiary pyramid
29.8959° N · 31.2011° E
Gallery