Sneferu was
the first king to build a "true pyramid". He built two pyramids
at Dahshur, south of Saqqara. The first is known as
the "Bent Pyramid" (or Rhomboidal ). The angle of
the sides changes two thirds of the way up its height, as structural problems
were discovered. The second is the "Red Pyramid", as red coloured
limestone was used in the centre of the pyramid. This is where Sneferu
was buried. Not only did he build the pyramids he also had a valley
and pyramid temple built, along with a causeway that was decorated with
raised relief scenes related to kingship and various festivals.
It was hoped that these scenes would enable Seneferu to participate
in similar events in the afterlife.
It
was Seneferu`s successor, Khufu, that built the "Great
Pyramid". This is the largest in Egypt. It is 146.5
metres high and has a ground area of 230 square metres.
His burial chamber was in the core of the pyramid unlike most other burial
chambers which were either at ground level or below. It is thought
that approximately
2,300,000 stone blocks weighing about 2.5
tons were used in its construction. In a pit near the pyramid
a dismantled boat has been found and restored. It is believed that
this was to be used by the dead king to travel across the sky with the
"Gods".
Djedefra,
who was the next 4th dynasty king was the first to incorporate the
name
Ra into his own (Radjedef). His pyramid was never completed
The
next king was
Khafra, who was another son of Khufu. Both
he and Menkaura erected their pyramids at Giza. Khafra`s
pyramid is the second largest in Egypt (143.5 metres tall
and a ground area of
214.5 metres).
The
"Great
Sphinx" was part of Khafra`s pyramid complex and stood as a
guardian near the temple causeway. It measures 72 metres long
and 20 metres high.
Menkaura
used granite instead of limestone in building his pyramid although it was
smaller than the previous pyramids. His son, Shepeskaf, had
a sarcophagus shaped mastaba built at Saqqara instead of a pyramid.
It
is thought that the construction of these pyramids was done when the Nile
flooded
and it was not possible for the farmers to work in their fields.
During
the fourth dynasty a "funerary cult" was established. The
pyramid complexes were where the relatives of the dead king could make
offerings on alters and offering tables. It was believed that this would
provide the deceased king with all the food and nourishment he would need
in the afterlife.
Userkaf
was
the first king to build a temple dedicated to the sun-god, Ra.
This was built at Abusir, north of Saqqara. Ra had
become the the "main" God at this time. The sun temple was
made up of a valley temple that was linked to an upper temple by a causeway.
In the upper temple was an obelisk which was the symbol of the sun-god.Ra
was seen as the source of life. Userkaf also built a small pyramid
in north Saqqara.
Sahura`s
pyramid is at Abusir.It`s causeway that linked the valley and pyramid
temples was decorated with wonderful reliefs. It was in the pyramid
of the next 5th dynasty king, Neferirkara, that some important
papyri were found. These papyri give details of how the pyramid community
was run, lists of its priests, temple equipment, letters and records of
deliveries of produce. King Raneferef had a very short reign and
his pyramid was only completed to it`s lower level, despite this, similar
papyri were found here as those found in Nefererkara`s pyramid.
King Nyuserra built his sun temple at Abu Ghurab, north of
Abusir
During
the 5th dynasty there were less members of the royal family that
occupied high offices than had previously been the case.The sun-temples
were also incorporated into the economic system of the state. Although
Ra
had been elevated to the "state" god, each area of Egypt
still
worshipped their own preferred deity. Many expeditions continued
to be made outside of Egypt to bring back turquoise, copper, gneiss,
malachite, myrrh and electrum. More of the priests and high officials
were now able to have their own tombs built funded by themselves.
Some of the finest tomb decoration was seen in these mastabas.
King
Menkauhor`s successors did not build sun-temples despite the continued
worship of Ra. King Djedkara built his pyramid at southern
Saqqara
and was quite small compared to his predecessors. That built by the
next
5th dynasty king, Unas, was even smaller.. The causeway linked
to this was beautifully decorated with scenes that recorded events from
Unas`s reign, including the transportation of granite columns from
Aswan. Unas was the first king to include the interior decoration
of his pyramid with religious texts. These were known as the "pyramid"
texts, and shed some light on the development of Egyptian religious beliefs.
The deceased king
Unas was identified with the gods Ra and
Osiris. In his deceased form he was called Osiris Unas
as it was believed that after death the king entered the "underworld"
of Osiris. The texts were included in the pyramid to give
the dead king information that was needed by him in the "afterlife".
To be continued
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