Pyramids of Lisht

Two major pyramids are known to have been built at Lisht, those of Amenemhat I and his son, Senusret I. The latter is surrounded by the ruins of ten smaller subsidiary pyramids. One of these subsidiary pyramids is known to be that of Amenemhat's cousin, Khaba II. The site which is in the vicinity of the oasis of Faiyum, midway between Dahshur and Meidum, and about 100 kilometres south of Cairo, is believed to be in the vicinity of the ancient city of Itj-towy (the precise location of which remains unknown), which served as the capital of Egypt during the 12th Dynasty.

Pyramid of Amenemhat I at Lisht

Amenemhat I, who founded Egypt's 12th Dynasty, was most likely the first ruler of the Middle Kingdom, after the First Intermediate Period, to build any sort of substantial pyramid. He did this at Lisht, near the Faiyum Oasis, which was growing in importance during this time. In fact, his pyramid named "Cult Places of Amenemhat's Appearance" most likely was built very near his new capital of Itj-towy. In addition, the old, important canal called Bahr el-Libeini may have run very close to the escarpment at the foot of Amenemhat I's pyramid, thus providing it with a harbor.

image of pyramid ruin of Amenemhet I at Lisht

The pyramid ruin of Amenemhat I at Lisht.

Amenemhat I also established a new tradition. In the Old Kingdom, the name of the pyramid usually was inclusive of the associated structures, including the pyramid town that so often grew up around the pyramids. However, from Amenemhat's time on, the major components of the complex each had their own names.

It was Maspero who, in 1882, was the first archaeologist to descend into the interior of Amenemhat I's pyramid. Then, in 1894 and 1895, the French archaeological expedition under the direction of Gautier and Jequier continued to investigate this pyramid. It was further explored by a team from the Metropolitan Museum of New York from 1902 until 1934 under the direction of Albert Lythgoe and Arthur Mace.

Unfortunately, a local Muslim cemetery is located atop Amenemhat I's valley temple. This component of the complex has not been seriously investigated both because of the cemetery, and the fact that its remains are below the level of ground water in the area.

The mortuary temple is located on the east side of the pyramid and this component of the complex was called "High (rises up) Amenemhet's Beauty". It is much smaller and simpler then Old Kingdom mortuary temples that lies on a level below the pyramid's base. This may architecturally reflect back to an influence from Mentuhotep II's terraced temple at Deir el-Bahari. Hardly anything remains of this temple, and so reconstructing its layout is difficult at best. Fragmentary inscriptions and reliefs found in the ruins suggest that it may have been rebuilt during the reign of Senusret I. Only the upper end of the mortuary temple's courtyard, which was originally open and had decorated walls, has been investigated. It may have been modeled on Mentuhotep II's complex as well.

image of entrance of Amenemhet I's pyramid

Entrance and the ruins to the north chapel of Amenemhat I's pyramid.

Some relief fragments were found among the ruins of the mortuary temple and can be dated from the time of Amenemhat I. However, some seem to have been recreation of Old Kingdom scenes. Inscriptions from one such relief seem to indicate that from year 20 of Amenemhat I's rule, his son Senusret I was a co-regent of his father. These reliefs appear to have had as their theme, the Sed Festival of Amenemhet which would have been held close to his 30th year of rule.

We do know that there was an offering hall from the limestone false door and granite altar found in the ruins. The altar is carved, depicting Nile gods and figures representing the nomes bringing offerings. In addition, foundation deposits were discovered that contained an ox skull, paint grinders and model vases of pottery and alabaster. 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 in a straight line on the axis of the pyramid and temple, but interestingly, was built without a roof. Its walls were nevertheless apparently decorated with scenes depicting processions of foreigners, estates, nobles and gods.

A statue of Amenemhat I, currently one of the many exhibits at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Regrettably, this generation of pyramids utilized mudbrick in their construction, which is always a problem from the standpoint of preservation. Today, the pyramid stands mostly 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 core of the pyramid was made of small rough blocks of local limestone with a loose fill of sand, debris and mudbrick. Remarkably, and probably for spiritual reasons, pyramid includes relief decorated blocks from a number of Old Kingdom monuments. They include granite blocks from the pyramid complexes, particularly their caseways and valley temples, of Khufu, Khafra, Unas and Pepi (II?). They were used to line and block this pyramid's descending passage. This may suggest that the causeways and valley temples of these earlier kings may have already been ruined during the time of Amenemhat I. The casing for the pyramid was made from fine white Tura limestone.

The entrance of the descending passage way is in the north face of the pyramid about ground level. It was covered by the North Chapel, and upon the kings burial, a red granite false door at the rear of the chapel sealed the entrance. The entrance corridor, which was line with pink granite and sealed with blocks of the same material, gradually descends t a square chamber that lay on the pyramid's vertical axis. Here, a vertical shaft in the floor dropped to the burial chamber that today is troubled by local ground water. All efforts to pump the ground water out have so far failed.

There seems to have been no small cult pyramid. The pyramid and mortuary temple were surrounded by no less then two perimeter walls, the outer being made of mudbrick and the inner one made from limestone. Between these walls at the rear (west) have been discovered 22 shaft tombs apparently belonging to the royal women. Fragmentary inscriptions have provided some information on these individuals, including the king's daughter, Neferu, who was the principal wife of Senusret I, the kings mother, Nefret, and a principal wife, Nefrytatenen, who was the mother of Senusret I. On the southwest corner of the pyramid was also found the tomb of Amenemhat I's vizier Antefiker. Near the northeast side of the pyramid between the enclosure walls are two mastabas of unknown ownership.

This pyramid was in effect very different then its predecessors. To a certain extent, it incorporated elements of both 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.

Pyramid of Senusret I at Lisht

Senusret I (Senwosret / Sesostris), the son and successor to Amenemhat I, built his pyramid at the southern end of the site at Lisht, known today as the South Lisht pyramid. It was investigated, like the North Lisht pyramid by Maspero in 1882 when he discovered the pyramid's owner from objects he found, bearing the king's name.

Pyramid of Senusret I.

image of chapel of Senwosret I's pyramid.

Close-up view of the casing and north chapel of Senusret I's pyramid.

Senusret's monument is larger than that of his father, though built basically to the same plan. However, Senusret's architects invented a new technique which was used by Senusret II at el-Lahun and throughout the Middle Kingdom, in which a core of limestone block walls radiated from the centre of the structure, and the spaces filled with unfired mudbricks and debris before being covered with a Tura limestone casing. In theory this made for a stronger structure. Some of the casing is still preserved and one of the walls of the framework is visible, but the pyramid today is little more than a low mound.

The entrance opened in a pavement at ground level on the north side of the structure, with an entrance chapel covering it. Fragments of coloured reliefs have been found from the chapel, as well as fragments of an altar and an alabaster false door stela. There were also water spouts in the shape of lions' heads (similar to those found in later temples) to drain water away from the roof. The entrance passage sloped downwards then turned towards the south-east but like Amenemhat's burial chamber this is now under water. Another tunnel was dug below the entrance passage to facilitate the transporting of materials to the burial chamber, which was presumably blocked up on completion of the pyramid. It is believed that the burial chamber was robbed shortly after it had been sealed, though Maspero found remains of the king's funerary goods in the robber's tunnel.

The complex is surrounded by a double perimeter wall, the first enclosing part of the king's mortuary temple on the eastern side and a small satellite pyramid at the south-east corner. The inside of the first perimeter wall was uniquely decorated with panels of reliefs with the king's names and images of fertility gods. Senusret's funerary temple is almost completely destroyed, although a little better preserved than that of his father, making it easier for archaeologists to reconstruct the plan. This conformed to funerary temples of 6th Dynasty, with remains of a courtyard and portico which had once had 24 pillars and an offering hall flanked by store-rooms. During excavations by Gautier in 1894 in the area of the mortuary temple, ten life-sized seated limestone statues of Senusret were found in a pit between two subsidiary temples (now in Cairo Museum).

Nine more secondary pyramids for female members of the king's family were found inside the outer mudbrick enclosure wall. Seven of the small pyramids had their own funerary temple and enclosure wall and the last two, on the northern side shared an enclosure. Only two of the names of royal ladies have so far been recovered, those of Nereru (or Nofret), wife (and sister) of Senusret and Itayket (or Itaksiet) who was probably Senusret's daughter.

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