English
“The tomb of Queen Khentkawas, resembling an immense sarcophagus, was unearthed by Selim Hassan during the years 1931-1932. Constructed atop a limestone ridge, it incorporates a mortuary temple cut from the same stone. Queen Khentkawas is recognized as a pivotal figure linking the 4th and 5th Dynasties, possibly the consort of Shepseskaf and mother to at least two pharaohs. Her titles suggest she assumed the throne during a period when the royal male lineage neared extinction. It’s speculated that her spouse was not of royal blood, potentially serving as a priest to the sun deity. Her story may have inspired a narrative in the Westcar Papyrus, which recounts the royal scepter passing beyond Pharaoh Khufu’s direct lineage. The entrance to the tomb’s substructure is located to the west of the temple’s second chamber, with the foundational bedrock forming an almost perfect square, each side measuring 45.5 meters and standing 10 meters tall.”
