The Pyramid of Pepi II at South Saqqara in Egypt, South Saqqara

Pyramid of Pepi II in South Saqqara was the last to be built in the best traditions of the Old Kingdom. It was named "Baby in life is permanent," which was in reality. We believe that the continued rule of 94 years, and then any of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh. Pyramid is located on the south shore of the cemetery, and about three miles south of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, which may have been a source of inspiration for the builders of the pyramid in the UK East.
Once again, PERRING first investigation in the pyramid, followed by Maspero who entered it in 1881. However, it was not until 1926, and methodology of the investigation initiated by Jequier, which continued its work until 1932.


The valley temple of Pepi II is very different from some of the kings in early. The structure of the large terrace with wide open on the east side and north-west to south-easterly direction along the channel are now. There are ramps and entrances at each end of the temple and wide, and an entry in the midfield with the road. Temple in the valley, and supported the front room of eight columns. Fragments of decorative theme alive, and shows the king being welcomed by the gods, a victory against the enemies of Egypt, and to hunt in dense papyrus. Hall of columns and behind this room was the stairs leading to the surface of the valley temple. This room also entries in the annexes to the storage of the valley temple, along with the entrance of the ascending road. Caught in the lobby is decorated with some of the fragments, including the scenes of a hippopotamus, and transport of Hippo on a wooden sled.

The bridge connecting the valley temple and the mortuary temple was too late, and two of the corner in the direction of the north-east. Higher return than a small room that served as a guard house. Scenes from the road, representing the king and the Sphinx and Griffin slaughter of prisoners and enemies of Egypt, as well as scenes of official convoys with dangerous goods from the farms and the various gods come to power on his throne.
Mortuary temple of Pepi II does not differ much from those of the rulers of the former 5th and 6th dynasty, but also includes some new features. For example, after the road, but in front of the entrance to a large corridor, from both sides, and two from the north and the south-oriented small rooms. According to Rick, these centers an important symbol of worship with the Center Heliopolis in the room, but in the room north and south of Sais the room. From here, a place for the stairs to the temple roof terrace. Moreover, the expansion of the walls of the mortuary temple of Oitba this development of similar characteristics in the tower started in the mortuary temple of Niuserre abusers.



The main entrance of the corridor, as usual, be open and yard Baptist, who paved in limestone. Walls of the courtyard, and seems to be decorated. There were columns of the eighteenth reddish quartzite. One of them, in the northwest corner alive. It is decorated with a scene of Pepi II and re-Harakhty exchange hugs. Of other staff was also highlighted with the King of God. On both sides of this part of the outside of the tomb complex storage annexes.
Corridor accidental internal departments and external mortuary temple is worth mentioning because it retains some of the decorative theme. Here we are in fact a form of stylized niche on the Western Wall, and on the eastern wall of the scene's thirst of Pepi II, the feast of the god Min, and implementation of the President of Libya. President was accompanied by his wife and son. However, this is the final scene, the ritual, as was found in the mortuary temple of Sahure.
In the middle of the back wall of the corridor cross directly behind the patio, a place to enter the inner sanctum of the temple. The entrance area is decorated with a scene of Pepi II, who suckled from the gods. The floor is a sanctuary raised on the height of one meter and then on the outer surface of the temple. Here, in the first room is the church for worship, with its five niches, framed in red granite, for the statues, which were originally scheduled, with a narrow double doors. To a large extent, a central place, which is slightly larger than the others, and contains the basis of life-size statue real. However, it remains the only evidence we have that these cameras were not present at the ports of the statue of reality. Niches lined with pink granite. Behind the chapel is carree waiting room area was one pillar of reddish quartzite. Here, and the roof was the subject of astronomy, and decorated with stars. On the wall we find scenes of the tiles to make greeting, and above them, separated by a row of stars is of Pepi II, who is in the company of the gods. From the northern entrance of the chapel led to the five supplements storage, while the front door to the south to the village.
However, before you reach the room was a small lobby and plaza, as a prelude to the individual columns. This approach is more scenes of animals the suppression of the king of chaos, killing enemies and wild animals. Above the entrance to the exhibition hall in the room is the scene of the King, who covers Nekhbet gods Anubis and a jackal. It also represents up to 100 avatars and 45 of the workers to receive the king.
Room provides a vaulted ceiling was decorated. Here, and King sit at a table with a list of the offerings of sacrifices, and holders of sacrifice, and the man slaughter of animals for sacrifice. There are about 100 dignitaries and residents in the form of ducks and geese, quail, doves, deer, goats, deer, cattle, fruit and wine, bear, and bread. Behind the king is shown in the figure with the symbol of the arms raised above his head, and a symbol of the king in the Ka. There are, of course, the altar at the bottom of this room adjacent to the pyramid was a false door.
There is a section on the south side of the corridor opened by dividing the pyramid in the courtyard, where the pyramid worship. Was 15.75 meters (52 feet) square. Lobby has a T-shape and a tiny camera, which was rough. There is a section at the other end of the initiative the main corridor of the pyramid courtyard, where three depressions (basins) may have been designed to collect water libation.
Pyramid of Pepi II is based on very similar to those of his predecessors, using a small piece of limestone is guaranteed with a mixture of clay and the essence of fine white limestone of the box. The core consists of five steps. What I do not understand why the pyramid itself has been expanded. Has been shown to add that after this case and the name of the north chapel, and a group of bricks of seven meters on the pyramid at the level of the third tier of memory blocks. To complete this work, and a chapel was torn north and the wall of the fence down, although the wall was built back a little bit away from the pyramid. This brick work did not exceed height of the wall of the ocean. Edwards suggests that this addition has been the promotion of the pyramid, after it was damaged by the earthquake, but the mud was not strong enough to be used for this purpose. May have been added to strengthen the lower levels of the deck. Others suggested that the builders of the pyramid you want to resemble a hieroglyph for "pyramid" with the band across the base, or it may even be a symbol and one of the festivals dam.


There is nothing unusual about especially in the underground section of the pyramid. Pass descended Initial vestibule, at a time when every thing level. In this area of the pyramid were found potsherds alabaster and diorite, with gold leaf a small knife, round which may be used in the ritual closure of the pyramid. Lobby opens on the second corridor, where he faced the barrier soon. Barrier consists of three large lumps of granite portcullis. After the wall, and will continue until a walkway leading to a waiting room. From here the plan to turn 90 degrees to the right in the burial chamber.
Of the high-level corridor walls decorated with the text of the pyramid. The only exception is in the back wall of the burial chamber behind the coffin, which is decorated with stylized palace facade. In this room, head and foot of the coffin end, the false doors, painted green and topped with the king to name-plate. Both at the border in the waiting room and the burial chamber are two types of water, and decorated with stars, astronomical subject on a dark background.
Mid-way through the side and is made of black granite is the hieroglyphic inscriptions with the name of Pepi II, and titles. At the foot of the sarcophagus was a place of al-Sadr jars, but there are only at the top of granite. Pepi II mummy was never found, but at the foot of the sarcophagus, "was the whole south-western corner of the canopic chest, the lid had been recovered.
It is also noticeable that within the ruins of the complex were found many statues of prisoners recalled that the Tete Complex, Djedkare Pepe I, despite the fact that many more found here.
To the north and north-west and south in the complex of Pepi II was fouind pyramids at least three of the queens. The pyramids belonged to Neith, the daughter of Pepi I, Ipwet (iput II), and the niece of Merenre, and another woman called Udjebten (Wedjebten).
Technical
• Length: 52.5m
• Base: 78.75m
• Tip: 53rd 13 '
• base of the pyramid of worship: 15.75m
• The slope of the worship of the pyramid: 63o
• Length of the road: 400m