Zawyet El Aryan (زاویة العریان) is a town in the Giza Governorate, located between Giza and Abusir.[1] To the west of the town, just in the desert area, is a necropolis, referred to by the same name. Almost directly east across the Nile is Memphis. In Zawyet El Aryan, there are two pyramid complexes and five mastaba cemeteries.
The Layer Pyramid was built in the Third Dynasty, probably during the reign of Khaba. The pyramid was meant to be a step pyramid of possibly five to seven steps. No casing stones have been found, suggesting that the pyramid was never finished. The layout of the underground chambers resembles that of the Buried Pyramid. A corridor leading into the interior has thirty-two side chambers meant for storage of the burial equipment.[1][2]
This unfinished pyramid belongs to a king with an illegible name and comprise little more than a massive descendry. All that stands now is a square base on which the core of the pyramid would have been constructed. A pink granite sarcophagus was found in a trench which cuts through the structure, although it may date to a later time period. The existence of underground chambers has been suspected, but excavations have not been possible as the structure is now part of a military restricted zone. Also called the "Northern Pyramid", this structure dates to the Fourth Dynasty.[1][2]
Necropolisedit
The area of Zawyet El Aryan is surrounded by a total of five cemeteries dating to the 1st Dynasty, 2nd Dynasty, late 3rd Dynasty, 18th Dynasty and Roman Period. Of these cemeteries, only the one dating to the late 3rd Dynasty contains large tombs, of which are four mudbrick mastabas. Reisner and Fisher observed that this is to be expected of the necropolis surrounding the pyramid of a pharaoh, the large tombs being those of the royal family and court officials. In particular, around 200 metres (660 ft) north of the Layer Pyramid is a huge mastaba, today known as "Mastaba Z500", which yielded eight marble bowls inscribed with the serekh of king Khaba. Reisner and Fisher therefore conclude that "if the mastabas belong to people connected with the king who built the pyramid, it is probable that the king’s name was Khaba". This opinion is shared by most Egyptologists who attribute the Layer Pyramid to Khaba.[3][4]
Zawyet El Aryan todayedit
Since 1960, much of the area near Zawyet El Aryan has been restricted for use as a military base. Access to the pyramids has been restricted since 1964. No excavations are allowed, the original necropolis is overbuilt with military bungalows, and the shaft of the Unfinished Pyramid has allegedly been misused as a trash dump. The condition of both burial shafts is uncertain and most possibly disastrous.[4][5]
Referencesedit
^ abcVerner, Miroslav: The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments. Grove Press. 2001 (1997). ISBN0-8021-3935-3, p. 270.
^ abRainer Stadelmann: Die ägyptischen Pyramiden. Vom Ziegelbau zum Weltwunder (= Kulturgeschichte der antiken Welt, Bd. 30). von Zabern, Mainz 1997, ISBN3-8053-1142-7, p. 140-144.
^G.A. Reisner and C.S. Fisher: The Work of the Harvard University - Museum of Fine Arts Egyptian Expedition (pyramid of Zawiyet El Aryan. (= Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts (BMFA); vol. 9, no. 54), Boston 1911, pp. 54-59.
^ abRainer Stadelmann: King Huni: His Monuments and His Place in the History of the Old Kingdom. In: Zahi A. Hawass, Janet Richards (Hrsg.): The Archaeology and Art of Ancient Egypt. Essays in Honor of David B. O’Connor, vol. II. Conceil Suprême des Antiquités de l’Égypte, Kairo 2007, p. 425–431.
^Roman Gundacker: Zur Struktur der Pyramidennamen der 4. Dynastie. In: Sokar, vol. 18, 2009. ISSN 1438-7956, p. 26–30.
April 17, 2024
zawyet, aryan, زاویة, العریان, town, giza, governorate, located, between, giza, abusir, west, town, just, desert, area, necropolis, referred, same, name, almost, directly, east, across, nile, memphis, there, pyramid, complexes, five, mastaba, cemeteries, locat. Zawyet El Aryan زاویة العریان is a town in the Giza Governorate located between Giza and Abusir 1 To the west of the town just in the desert area is a necropolis referred to by the same name Almost directly east across the Nile is Memphis In Zawyet El Aryan there are two pyramid complexes and five mastaba cemeteries Zawyet El AryanZawyet El AryanLocation in EgyptCoordinates 29 54 N 31 12 E 29 900 N 31 200 E 29 900 31 200Country EgyptGovernorateGizaTime zoneUTC 2 EST Summer DST 3 Contents 1 Pyramids 1 1 Layer Pyramid 1 2 Unfinished Pyramid 2 Necropolis 3 Zawyet El Aryan today 4 ReferencesPyramids editLayer Pyramid edit Main article Layer Pyramid The Layer Pyramid was built in the Third Dynasty probably during the reign of Khaba The pyramid was meant to be a step pyramid of possibly five to seven steps No casing stones have been found suggesting that the pyramid was never finished The layout of the underground chambers resembles that of the Buried Pyramid A corridor leading into the interior has thirty two side chambers meant for storage of the burial equipment 1 2 Unfinished Pyramid edit Main article Unfinished Northern Pyramid of Zawyet El Aryan This unfinished pyramid belongs to a king with an illegible name and comprise little more than a massive descendry All that stands now is a square base on which the core of the pyramid would have been constructed A pink granite sarcophagus was found in a trench which cuts through the structure although it may date to a later time period The existence of underground chambers has been suspected but excavations have not been possible as the structure is now part of a military restricted zone Also called the Northern Pyramid this structure dates to the Fourth Dynasty 1 2 Necropolis editThe area of Zawyet El Aryan is surrounded by a total of five cemeteries dating to the 1st Dynasty 2nd Dynasty late 3rd Dynasty 18th Dynasty and Roman Period Of these cemeteries only the one dating to the late 3rd Dynasty contains large tombs of which are four mudbrick mastabas Reisner and Fisher observed that this is to be expected of the necropolis surrounding the pyramid of a pharaoh the large tombs being those of the royal family and court officials In particular around 200 metres 660 ft north of the Layer Pyramid is a huge mastaba today known as Mastaba Z500 which yielded eight marble bowls inscribed with the serekh of king Khaba Reisner and Fisher therefore conclude that if the mastabas belong to people connected with the king who built the pyramid it is probable that the king s name was Khaba This opinion is shared by most Egyptologists who attribute the Layer Pyramid to Khaba 3 4 Zawyet El Aryan today editSince 1960 much of the area near Zawyet El Aryan has been restricted for use as a military base Access to the pyramids has been restricted since 1964 No excavations are allowed the original necropolis is overbuilt with military bungalows and the shaft of the Unfinished Pyramid has allegedly been misused as a trash dump The condition of both burial shafts is uncertain and most possibly disastrous 4 5 References edit a b c Verner Miroslav The Pyramids The Mystery Culture and Science of Egypt s Great Monuments Grove Press 2001 1997 ISBN 0 8021 3935 3 p 270 a b Rainer Stadelmann Die agyptischen Pyramiden Vom Ziegelbau zum Weltwunder Kulturgeschichte der antiken Welt Bd 30 von Zabern Mainz 1997 ISBN 3 8053 1142 7 p 140 144 G A Reisner and C S Fisher The Work of the Harvard University Museum of Fine Arts Egyptian Expedition pyramid of Zawiyet El Aryan Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts BMFA vol 9 no 54 Boston 1911 pp 54 59 a b Rainer Stadelmann King Huni His Monuments and His Place in the History of the Old Kingdom In Zahi A Hawass Janet Richards Hrsg The Archaeology and Art of Ancient Egypt Essays in Honor of David B O Connor vol II Conceil Supreme des Antiquites de l Egypte Kairo 2007 p 425 431 Roman Gundacker Zur Struktur der Pyramidennamen der 4 Dynastie In Sokar vol 18 2009 ISSN 1438 7956 p 26 30 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zawyet El Aryan amp oldid 982446386, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
