Lepsius list of pyramids

The Lepsius list of pyramids is a list of sixty-seven ancient Egyptian pyramids established in 1842–1843 by Karl Richard Lepsius (1810–1884), an Egyptologist and leader of the "Prussian expedition to Egypt" from 1842 until 1846.

Members of the Prussian expedition to Egypt celebrate Frederick William IV's birthday on the summit of the Great Pyramid of Giza

The Lepsius list of pyramid is the first attempt at systematically listing all the Egyptian pyramids, and as such, is a pioneering effort of early modern Egyptology. The list was published together with the results of the expedition in Lepsius work Denkmäler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien (1849–1859).

List

History

Karl Richard Lepsius

Following the success of the Franco-Tuscan Expedition to Egypt under the leadership of Jean-François Champollion, the Prussian scientists Alexander von Humboldt and Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and the minister of instruction Johann Eichhorn recommended to king Frederick William IV that an expedition be sent to Egypt. Karl Richard Lepsius, who had learned of Champollion's method to decipher the hieroglyphs and had met Ippolito Rosellini of the Franco-Tuscan Expedition, was chosen to lead it.[1] The main aim of the expedition was to explore and record the remains of the ancient Egyptian civilization as well as to gather materials for the Egyptian Museum of Berlin.

The Prussian expedition assembled in Alexandria in 1842 and quickly departed for Giza, which was reached in November that same year. Proceeding north to south, Lepsius's men then explored the pyramids field of Abusir, Saqqara, Dahshur and, in 1843, Hawara. Lepsius and team stayed for 6 months in total at these locations, as the Prussian expedition was the first study and record Old Kingdom material in depth.[1]

In total, Lepsius and his men uncovered a total of 67 pyramids and 130 tombs.[1] The pyramids, dating from the Third Dynasty (c. 2686–2613 BCE) until the Thirteenth Dynasty (c. 1800–1650 BCE), were given Roman numerals from north to south, starting from Abu Rawash in the north. Although a few of the structures reported by Lepsius are now known to have been mastabas and other monumental structures (highlighted on the list below in light gray), the Lepsius list of pyramids is still considered a pioneering achievement of modern Egyptology. Lepsius' numerals have remained the standard designation for some of the pyramids.

The results of the Prussian expedition to Egypt, comprising the list of pyramids, were published in the Denkmäler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien.[2]

Pyramids

Lepsius Number Location Modern identification Image
IAbu RawashPyramid Lepsius I
IIAbu RawashPyramid of Djedefre
IIIAbu RawashPyramid complex of Djedefre, subsidiary pyramid
IVGizaGreat Pyramid of Giza
VGizaNorth subsidiary pyramid of Khufu's, G-Ia
VIGizaMiddle subsidiary pyramid of Khufu's, G-Ib
VIIGizaSouth subsidiary pyramid of Khufu's, G-Ic
VIIIGizaPyramid of Khafre
IXGizaPyramid of Menkaure
XGizaWest subsidiary pyramid of Menkaure's, G-IIIc
XIGizaMiddle subsidiary pyramid of Menkaure's, G-IIIb
XIIGizaEast subsidiary pyramid of Menkaure's, G-IIIa
XIIIZawyet el'AryanUnfinished Northern Pyramid of Zawyet el'Aryan
XIVZawyet el'AryanLayer Pyramid
XVAbu GorabSun temple of Nyuserre Ini
XVIAbusirUnidentified brick pyramid
XVIIAbusirSun temple of Userkaf
XVIIIAbusirPyramid of Sahure
XIXAbusirMastaba of vizier Ptahshepses
XXAbusirPyramid of Nyuserre
XXIAbusirPyramid of Neferirkare
XXIIAbusirSmall satellite pyramid
XXIIIAbusirSmall satellite pyramid
XXIVAbusirPyramid Lepsius XXIV, queen of Nyuserre Ini
XXVAbusirDouble Pyramid, queen of Nyuserre Ini or Neferefre, could be a double mastaba
XXVIAbusirPyramid of Neferefre
XXVIIAbusirCompletely destroyed, only an outline is visible
XXVIIIAbusirUnfinished pyramid or a natural structure
XXIXSaqqaraHeadless Pyramid of Menkauhor Kaiu
XXXSaqqaraPyramid of Teti
XXXISaqqaraPyramid of Userkaf
XXXIISaqqaraPyramid of Djoser
XXXIIISaqqaraNorth pavillon of Djoser's pyramid complex
XXXIVSaqqaraSouth pavillon of Djoser's pyramid complex
XXXVSaqqaraPyramid of Unas
XXXVISaqqaraPyramid of Pepi I
XXXVIISaqqaraPyramid of Djedkare-Isesi
XXXVIIISaqqaraSubsidiary pyramid to Djedkare's, unknown queen
XXXIXSaqqaraPyramid of Merenre
XLSaqqaraPyramid of Ibi
XLISaqqaraPyramid of Pepi II
XLIISaqqaraSubsidiary pyramid of Pepi II's for his queen Wedjebten
XLIIISaqqaraMastabat al-Fir'aun of Shepseskaf
XLIVSaqqaraPyramid of Khendjer
XLVSaqqara13th Dynasty structure
XLVISaqqaraSouthern South Saqqara pyramid
XLVIIDahshurPyramid of Senusret III
XLVIIIDahshurMastaba, unknown owner
XLIXDahshurRed Pyramid
LDahshurLepsius-L Pyramid
LIDahshurPyramid of Amenemhat II
LIIDahshurPylon of the temple of the pyramid of Amenemhat II
LIIIDahshurPylon of the temple of the pyramid of Amenemhat II
LIVDahshurCentral Dahshur pyramid
LVDahshurMastaba of vizier Siese
LVIDahshurBent Pyramid
LVIIDahshurSubsidiary pyramid of the bent pyramid
LVIIIDahshurPyramid of Amenemhat III
LIXDahshurNorthern Mazghuna pyramid
LXEl-LishtPyramid of Amenemhat I
LXIEl-LishtPyramid of Senusret I
LXIIEl-LishtMastaba, unknown owner
LXIIIEl-LishtMastaba of Senewosret-Ankh[3]
LXIVEl-LishtMastaba, possibly belonging to a private individual named Senusret[4]
LXVMeidumPyramid of Meidum
LXVIEl-LahunPyramid of Senusret II
LXVIIHawaraPyramid of Hawara, of Amenemhat III. Situated north of "The Labyrinth"

Lepsius' maps

Lepsius drew maps of the locations his expedition visited and which regroup the pyramid listed above. They are presented below, from north to south.

References

  1. Peck 2001, p. 289.
  2. Lepsius Denkmaler 2016.
  3. Arnold 2008, pp. 13–24, pls. 2–7, 9–25, pls. 62–92, pl. 129–133..
  4. Arnold 2008, pp. 24–26, pls. 26–31, pls. 62–92, pl. 129–133.

Bibliography

  • Arnold, Dieter (2008). Middle Kingdom Tomb Architecture at Lisht. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art. ISBN 978-0-300-12344-9.
  • "Carl Richard Lepsius "DENKMÄLER AUS AEGYPTEN UND AETHIOPIEN"". Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  • Peck, William H. (2001). "Lepsius, Karl Richard". In Redford, Donald B. (ed.). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, Volume 2. Oxford University Press. pp. 289–290. ISBN 978-0-19-510234-5.
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