The 'Lost' Pyramid of Djedefre at Abu Rowash

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                                                       ABYDOS KINGS LIST









DYNASTY FOUR
 


Snefru

Khufu

Djedefre

Khafre

Menkaure

Shepseskaf

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                                                         THE 'SON OF RE'






 The title 'son of Re' is first attested under Djedefre.



Unas is the first king who placed 'son of Re' before his birth name, inside the cartouche.

In the First Intermediate Period king Meryibre Khety placed 'son of Re' before his cartouche.

In the Middle Kingdom (about 2025-1700 BC) and later it is the normal title for the birth
name (nomen) of the king, written outside the cartouche as in the example above.



http://www.digitalegypt.ucl.ac.uk/ideology/kingname/sonra.html





                           

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                                         PYRAMID DISCOVERED AT ABU ROWASH






Ministry of Culture
Supreme Council of Antiquities
Secretary General Office

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The Swiss/ French mission in cooperation with the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) discovered a pyramid in April 2002, at the site of Abu Rowash dated to the reign of Djedefre.

The excavation of the 8th mission started at the southeast section of the King Djedefre's royal pyramid complex at Abu Rowash. This site is located to the south of the boat pit that was discovered by E. Chassinat and it has never been excavated before.

During the excavation the team discovered the enclosure wall that went from the north to the south until stopping at the southeast angle. We found that this wall continued to the west. The general design of this wall showed us a small area on the south side of the enclosure wall where we discovered a building that was completely unknown. After cleaning the area we found that this building was a satellite pyramid. The base of the pyramid is approximately 20 arms long on each side and is five courses tall. It only appears from the south side. It is approximately 1.60 - 2.00 meters high. This pyramid it is located approximately 10 arms from the south east angle of the pyramid of King Djedefre. The newly discovered pyramid is situated at the exact angles and layout as the pyramid of Djedefre. In the middle of the north façade of the newly discovered pyramid we found a shaft that is approximately four arms deep. (H. 1.50 m. L. 1.50 m.)

 In the rubble of this shaft we found a large block that was used to seal the sub-structure of the pyramid. We discovered a corridor in the sub-structure that went from the north to the south. Connected to this corridor is one entrance to a chamber on the east side and two entrances to two chambers on the west side.

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                                                Artifacts discovered inside the pyramid





Some tiles that are similar to the tiles used for decoration in the southern tomb of Djoser at the Step Pyramid in Saqqara.

A large Egyptian alabaster vessel. It is in excellent condition and complete. It has a beautiful circular neck. (H. 36 cm. Diameter. 19 cm.) We found the lid of the vessel. (Diameter. 11cm.)
Fragments of a large Egyptian Alabaster plate with the inscription: hr md ddw hwfw. This is the horus name of King Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid.

Many pottery fragments from water vessels. (Diameter. 25 cm.)

Two Egyptian Alabaster lids possibly from canopic jars. (Diameter. 12 cm. & 14 cm.)

The chamber on the east side contained many fragments of the lid of a magnificent limestone sarcophagus. (H. 2.06 m. L. 0.42 m.) and some limestone fragments from the body of the sarcophagus.



MORE on this great discovery to follow....



http://www.zahihawass.com/articles_new_pyramid.htm

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                                               Newsweek's Interactive Graphic



             on Djedefre's pyramid with Interactive Timeline of the major pyramids of ancient Egypt



http://www.newsweek.com/id/141635




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ALSO THE HISTORY CHANNEL EXCELLENT TWO-HOUR DOCUMENTARY:






                                              The Lost Pyramid History King Djedefre




The leader behind The Lost Pyramid.

The Fourth Pyramid

Was it once the largest Pyramid ever built?

Image Gallery



http://www.history.com/minisites/lostpyramid