Pyramid of Ankhesenpepi III

The Pyramid of Ankhesenpepi III is one of the smaller pyramids located in the Saqqara necropolis, about 30 km south of Cairo in Egypt. Ankhesenpepi III was the queen consort of Pharaoh Pepi II, and it is believed that she reigned as a pharaoh after her husband’s death as she was the mother of the next pharaoh. The pyramid was built during the Sixth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, around 2300 BC, and it has a base measuring approximately 22 meters on each side. The pyramid was constructed using limestone blocks, which were quarried from nearby areas and transported to the site by laborers.

The Pyramid of Ankhesenpepi III is unusual in several regards. Firstly, it is one of the few pyramids that have an entrance on the north side, rather than on the west, which is the more common position for pyramid entrances. Secondly, it comprises a series of six chambers, which are accessed via a descending staircase concealed within the masonry of the pyramid.

One of the most intriguing features of the Pyramid of Ankhesenpepi III is the nature of the burial chamber. Archaeologists discovered that the queen’s remains were not in the main chamber, but a smaller side-chamber located off the main corridor. The reason for this is unknown, but it is speculated that it may have been due to some unforeseen circumstances that meant the main chamber was unusable, or that Ankhesenpepi III chose to be buried in a more private location. Another interesting aspect of the Pyramid of Ankhesenpepi III is the presence of graffiti left by visitors over the centuries. The walls of the monument are covered in inscriptions in hieroglyphics, Greek, Latin, and Arabic, which date back to the Roman period. These inscriptions provide valuable information about the visitors who came to the pyramid over the years and the reverence in which they held the ancient monuments.

Overall,

while the Pyramid of Ankhesenpepi III may not be as grand as some of the other pyramids in Egypt, its unique features and historical significance make it a fascinating attraction for visitors to the Saqqara necropolis.