the Pyramid Complex of Horus Sekhemkhet
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Location and Context:
- Sekhemkhet’s funerary complex is situated at Saqqara, to the north-west of his predecessor Netjerikhet’s pyramid and to the east of the so-called Great Enclosure.
- The Great Enclosure is possibly part of a funerary complex dated towards the end of the 2nd Dynasty, a couple of generations before Sekhemkhet.
- Sekhemkhet’s reign was short, which might explain why his monument was left unfinished.
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Architectural Features:
- Enclosure Wall: The complex had a surrounding wall with a palace façade motif. Unlike Netjerikhet’s complex, most of the fake buildings were missing in Sekhemkhet’s.
- Step Pyramid: Sekhemkhet’s pyramid was intended as a step-pyramid. The same construction technique used for Netjerikhet’s pyramid was applied here.
- South Tomb: Located to the south of the pyramid, the South Tomb was also left unfinished. It contained the remains of a two-year-old boy, unlikely to be Sekhemkhet himself.
- Imhotep’s Influence: The name of Netjerikhet’s brilliant architect, Imhotep, is mentioned on the north enclosure wall. It’s likely that Imhotep also designed Sekhemkhet’s monument.
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Burial Chamber and Sarcophagus:
- Beneath the pyramid, there exists a network of subterranean galleries and magazines surrounding the burial chamber.
- A unique sealed alabaster sarcophagus was found, although without any human remains inside.
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Unfinished Legacy:
- Sekhemkhet’s untimely death halted construction, leaving the pyramid incomplete.
- Despite its unfinished state, the Buried Pyramid of Sekhemkhet stands as a testament to ancient Egypt’s architectural ambitionp