The pyramid of Amenemhat I is an ancient Egyptian burial structure built at Lisht by the founder of the Twelfth Dynasty of Egypt, Amenemhat I.
This structure returned to the approximate size and form of Old Kingdom pyramids. It also established a new tradition of giving each component structure in the pyramid complex its unique name. His pyramid, “Cult Places of Amenemhet’s Appearance”, was most likely built near his new capital of Itj-towy. In addition, the old, necessary canal called Bahr el-Libeini may have run very close to the escarpment at the foot of Amenemhet I’s pyramid, thus providing it with a harbour.
Location of Pyramid of Amenemhat I
The pyramid of Amenemhat I is located in Lisht at Fayoum. Pharaoh Amenemhat I, the founder of the 12th Dynasty, built it. It is one of the most magnificent complex pyramids dating back to the old kingdom. Moreover, this glorious pyramid was discovered in 1882, built from mud brick with an outer layer of limestone; the pyramid’s height is around 55 m, with a length of 83 m and a slope of 54 degrees.
Excavation
The French Egyptologist Gaston Maspero undertook the first excavation of the site in 1882. His work was later continued by a French archaeological expedition under the direction of J.E. Gautier and Gustave Jéquier in 1894 and 1895. The investigations were continued from 1920 to 1934 by Albert Lythgoe and Arthur Mace in a team from the Metropolitan Museum in New York City. None of the expeditions successfully explored the pyramid’s interior due to the internal passageways being flooded with groundwater. By the time of these excavations, the pyramid had undergone much disintegration and was now only 20 meters high, with most of the surrounding complex gone.
Construction of Pyramid of Amenemhat I
Archaeological evidence suggests that Amenemhat started to build his pyramid at Thebes but, for unknown reasons, switched his capital and the pyramid’s location to Lisht (1991–1778 BC). Upon its completion, the pyramid rose to a height of 55 m, with a base length of 83 m and a slope of 54 degrees. The pyramid’s core was made with small rough blocks of local limestone with a loose fill of sand debris and mud brick. Some of the limestones were stripped from other monuments, and blocks of stone from the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, Unas and Pepi II (or possibly Pepi I) have been found in the pyramid. Inside the pyramid, a sloped shaft blocked with granite plugs upon burial ran from the ground-level entrance chapel to a vertical shaft that descended directly to the burial chamber. The overall construction of the pyramid was poor, and little remains today.
Around the pyramid were found tombs of high officials serving the king. These include the burials of the high steward Nakht, the treasurer Rehuerdjersen and the vizier Intefiqer.
Pyramid Complex
A local Muslim cemetery is located atop King Amenemhet I’s valley temple. This complex component has not been seriously investigated because the necropolis and its remains are below the groundwater level in the area.
The mortuary temple is located on the pyramid’s east side, and this complex component was called “High Amenemhet’s Beauty”. It is much smaller and simpler than Old Kingdom mortuary temples that lie on a level below the pyramid’s base. Hardly anything remains of this temple, so reconstructing its layout is difficult at best. Fragmentary inscriptions and reliefs found in ruins suggest that it may have been rebuilt during the reign of Senwosret I. Only the upper end of the mortuary temple’s courtyard, which was initially open and had decorated walls, has been investigated. This may architecturally reflect an influence from Mentuhotep II’s terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari. It may have been modelled on Mentuhotep II’s complex as well.
Some relief fragments were found among the ruins of the mortuary temple and can be dated from the time of Amenemhet I. However, some seem to have been recreations of Old Kingdom scenes. Inscriptions from one such relief indicate that from year 20 of Amenemhet I’s rule, his son Senwosret I was a co-regent of his father. These reliefs appear to have had the Sed Festival of Amenemhet as their theme, which would have been held close to his 30th year of rule.
There was an offering hall from the limestone false door and a granite altar in ruins. The altar is carved, depicting Nile gods and figures representing the nomes bringing offerings. In addition, foundation deposits that contained an ox skull, paint grinders, and model vases of pottery and alabaster were discovered. Also found here were bricks with plaques of copper, alabaster and faience, one of which was inscribed with the pyramid’s name.
The causeway ran straight on the axis of the pyramid and temple but, interestingly, was built without a roof. Its walls were decorated with scenes depicting processions of foreigners, estates, nobles and gods. Regrettably, this generation of pyramids utilized mudbrick in their construction, which is always a problem from the preservation standpoint. Today, the pyramid stands mainly in ruins that only rise about 20 meters above the Lisht ground level, though, at one time, its size was reasonably close to those built in the Old Kingdom.
The pyramid’s core was made of small rough blocks of local limestone with a loose fill of sand, debris and mudbrick. Remarkably, and probably for spiritual reasons, the pyramid includes relief decorated blocks from several Old Kingdom monuments. They have granite blocks from the pyramid complexes, particularly their causeways and valley temples of Khufu, Khafre, Unas and Pepi II. They were used to line and block this pyramid’s descending passage. This may suggest that these earlier kings’ causeways and valley temples were already ruined during the time of Amenemhet I. The casing for the pyramid was made from refined white Tura limestone.
The entrance of the descending passageway is on the north face of the pyramid at about ground level. The North Chapel covered it, and upon the king’s burial, a red granite false door at the rear of the chapel sealed the entrance. The entrance corridor, lined with pink granite and sealed with blocks of the same material, gradually descends to a square chamber on the pyramid’s vertical axis. Here, a vertical shaft in the floor dropped to the burial chamber, which is troubled by local groundwater today. All efforts to pump the groundwater out have so far failed.
There seems to have been no small cult pyramid. No less than two perimeter walls surrounded the pyramid and mortuary temple, the outer being made of mudbrick and the inner one made from limestone. Between these walls at the rear (west), 22 shaft tombs belonging to the royal women have been discovered. Fragmentary inscriptions have provided information on these individuals, including the king’s daughter, Neferu, who was the principal wife of Senusret I, the king’s mother, Nefret, and a top wife, Nefrytatenen, who was the mother of Senwosret I. The tomb of Amenemhet I’s vizier Antefiker was also found on the southwest corner of the pyramid. Near the northeast side of the pyramid, between the enclosure walls, are two mastabas of unknown ownership.
This pyramid was, in effect, very different from its predecessors. To a certain extent, it incorporated elements of the old pyramids and the Theban tombs, including the style of some reliefs, the two terraces of the pyramid and temple, the central shaft to the burial chamber and the open causeway.
- Height: 59m
- Base: 84m
- Slope: 54o 27′
