Pyramid Complex of Horus Sekhemket

the Pyramid Complex of Horus Sekhemkhet

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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