Pyramid of Queen Mehaa
Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty, c.2330 BCE·Ancient Egyptian·🇪🇬 South Saqqara, Memphis Necropolis, Egypt
About
About Pyramid of Queen Mehaa
Western queens row pyramid west of Pepi I, belonging to Mehaa (Mery-ankh?) wife of Pepi I, excavated by Jéquier and re-cleared by Labrousse. 21 m canon, eastern mortuary temple with offering table intact. Queen's name on alabaster altar fragment.
Why it mattersAlabaster altar rare queen name evidence; western row prestige marker.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Mehaa genealogy — daughter of vizier?
Theories
- 01Western row Text-queens higher status
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.2330 BCE
- Period
- Old Kingdom, 6th Dynasty, c.2330 BCE
- Culture
- Ancient Egyptian
- Builders
- Ancient Egyptian (Pepi I)
- Purpose
- Queens pyramid — consort Mehaa
- Excavation
- Excavated
c.2330 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c.1200 BCE
Major refurbishment / enlargement phase
c.220 CE
Abandonment or conversion
1890–1930
Modern rediscovery and first scientific survey
On the ground
Structures & features
29.8528° N · 31.2188° E · 55 m · 2 mapped features
Alabaster offering altar
altarAlabaster offering altar slab 1.2 × 0.8 m with Mehaa name
29.8529° N · 31.2187° EWestern chamber — Text west wall
chamberWest wall of burial chamber inscribed PT for queen
29.8529° N · 31.2188° E