- ABUSIR -

The Pyramid of Sahura

The first studies of the Pyramid of Sahura and its Temple Complex were carried out in the middle of the XIX century by English Egyptologist John Perring and German archaeologist Karl Lepsius. Because of the strong collapse of the interior of the Pyramid, no any serious archaeological works were possible for them. And only a few years later, the inner rooms of the Pyramid were visited by French archaeologist Jacques de Morgan. But he also was unable to get too far inside. The first large-scale excavation of the Pyramid Complex were carried out only at the beginning of the XX century, by German Egyptologist Ludwig Borchardt. During the period from 1902 to 1908 the whole Complex was cleared from sand and carefully studied.

In 2011, our research group visited Abusir together with Egyptian historian Yousef Awyan, who showed us all the artifacts and structures, located in this territory. Then longer we stay in Abusir, then more and more interest arised in everyone's mind. It seemed, that the lands of Abusir were trying to tell us their story, through a variety of artifacts, "staring" at us from beneath the sands of the Sahara Desert.

So, the Pyramid of Sahura.

The perimeter of the Pyramid - 78.75 x 78.75 m
The original height of the Pyramid - 47 m
The slope of the Pyramid sides- 50 ° 11'40

The Valley and Pyramid Temples of Sahura.

Before reviewing the design features of the Valley Temple, lets pay attention to the pictures, showing the "Ceremonial Causeway", connecting the Valley Temple with the Upper Pyramid Temple. Lets note the presence of a well-preserved aqueduct, located under the causeway along its entire length of 235 meters. The first picture below is showing the beginning of the aqueduct, the last one - shows it's sequel on the way to the Pyramid Temple.

            

And now, let's return back to the very beginning of the causeway, where the Valley Temple of the Pyramid of Sahura is located. .

The pictures below are showing the entrance to the Temple, arranged with two surviving columns made ​​of red granite. All the Temple construction is tightly covered with reeds.

The basalt floor masonry and other design features of the Valley Temple are also can be found in the Upper Pyramid Temple.

            

            

            

As shown on the pictures below, the Temple has a floor, made ​​of basalt blocks, arranged in the style of "polygonal masonry." White patches on the basalt blocks of the floor and the walls along the whole perimeter is explained by the fact, that the Temple building for a long time was affected by the water, so the stone is partly covered by the white sediments, caused by external influences of natural conditions.

            

            

            

            

In the last row of the pictures above we can see a technological element in the eastern wall of the Temple. Something similar we can watch in Osirion at Abydos:

            

            

            

            

Walking up the causeway, we face the Upper Pyramid Temple, which is located on the east side of the Pyramid of Sahura. As it shown on the photos below, there are a great number of construction elements, made of granite and basalt.

Despite of the completely ruined walls of the Temple, its basalt floor have been preserved in the excellent condition.

            

            

            

            

            

            

            

Talking about basalt polygonal masonry of the Pyramid floors, lets mention that such kind of floors can be found in the Upper Temples of the Pyramid of Cheops in Giza, the Pyramid of Userkaf in Saqqara and the Pyramids of Sahour and Niuserra in Abusir.

 



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