The Pyramid of Unas is an extraordinary creation of marvelous allure and greatness rising from the golden sands near Saqqara, where an essential part of the culture, history, and art will come to life in front of your eyes. This smooth-sided pyramid of Unas was known as “Nefer Asut Unas” which means beautiful the places of Unas. It was constructed by Pharaoh Unas, the final King of the 5th dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt (2575-2150 BC), to be the smallest pyramid, which will uncover a number of magnificent tales and facts.

The pyramid of Unas is highly significant besides holding the pyramid texts, which is a form of protection spells later transformed into the funerary text in the Middle Kingdom of Egypt and the Book of the Dead in the New Kingdom of Egypt. This archaeological gem is filled with a wealth of excellent knowledge about the journey of the afterlife for the royal rulers and, the power of the gods & the mythical artifacts, plus the incredible construction of that time period.

Pyramid Of Unas History

The Pyramid of Unas was built in the 24th century BC for Pharaoh Unas, who was the ninth and last ruler of the Fifth Dynasty. His pyramid is renowned for being the smallest pyramid of the Old Kingdom (2700 – 2200 BC) but holds significance for housing the first-known Pyramid Texts, which are basically spells inscribed for the protection of the king in the afterlife on its subterranean chamber walls. Unas strategically positioned his pyramid in North Saqqara, between the great complexes of Djoser and Sekhmet connected by an elaborately decorated causeway built over challenging terrain. The causeway, starting from a valley temple, repurposed old structures and tombs, including 2nd Dynasty tombs, creating a historical pathway. The site later hosted burials from the 5th to the 20th Dynasties and “Persian Tombs” which are a monument collection of the Late Period.

The causeway linked the valley temple to the mortuary temple on the eastern side of the pyramid, entered through a granite doorway possibly made by Teti Unas’s successor. Adjacent to the causeway were boat pits, potentially holding the sun god Ra’s solar Barques. The mortuary temple, resembling Djedkare Isesi’s layout, featured an inner temple with a ruined antechamber containing a unique quartzite column that is connected with the sun cult because of its coloration. Quartzite is considered an unusual choice for construction material which possesses a symbolic significance.

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The pyramid’s underground chambers were discovered in 1881, revealing 283 spells constituting the smallest, oldest, and best-preserved collection of the Old Kingdom’s religious writing. The Pyramid Texts explored by Gaston Maspero aimed to guide and assist the pharaoh to eternal life and provide the ultimate means of survival. Many Egyptologists persist regarding the cult’s continuity, with some suggesting it may have ended the First Intermediate Period or been revived at the Middle Kingdom. The Supreme Council of Antiquities, between 1999 and 2001, conducted a series of restorations and reconstruction projects on the valley temple plus a number of three ramps and entrances were restored.

Pyramid of Unas Location & How to Get

The Pyramid of Unas is found at the Saqqara Necropolis, which is part of the Memphis Necropolis, located on a line that runs between the Pyramid of Menkauhor and the Pyramid of Sekhemkhet.

The site where the pyramid was held has an exceptionally long causeway that leads to a nearby lake. To get there, one can travel from Cairo to Saqqara, a journey of approximately 30 kilometers, or simply hire a travel agency that will take you to this epic wonder.

Who is King Unas

Sarcophagus of Unas in Pyramid of Unas – Egypt Tours Portal

Unas was the ninth and final pharaoh of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom (2345–2315 BC) and ruled for 15 to 30 years following Djedkare Isesi. His reign coincided with economic decline, which was marked by decentralized administration and a weakening of royal authority, which contributed to the eventual collapse of the Old Kingdom two centuries later.

Unas left a remarkable legacy with his pyramid in Saqqara which is the smallest of its kind from the Old Kingdom. The accompanying mortuary complex boasted lavish decorations, including painted reliefs of superior quality and variety, surpassing typical royal iconography. Unas pioneered a significant innovation by having Pyramid Texts, associating the king with Ra and Osiris, carved and painted on the chamber walls to aid in the afterlife journey.

Unas is believed to have engaged in trade deals with the Levantine coast and Nubia, with potential military actions in southern Canaan. His reign marked the continuation of the Old Kingdom’s decline, characterized by administrative growth and reduced royal power. Unas had several daughters and possibly one or two sons. Unas’s death signaled the end of the 5th dynasty. He was succeeded by Teti, the first pharaoh of the Sixth Dynasty, though archaeological evidence suggests a seamless transition between the two dynasties.

The funerary cult established at Unas’ death persisted until the Old Kingdom’s end, possibly surviving into the chaotic First Intermediate Period. Despite later pharaohs partially dismantling Unas’ mortuary complex, his cult persisted into the Middle Kingdom. Unas may have been locally venerated as a god in Saqqara for centuries, lasting until the Late Period, nearly 2000 years after his death.

The Pyramid of Unas Architecture

West Face of Pyramid of Unas – Egypt Tours Portal

The pyramid of Unas is located southwest of Djoser’s funerary complex in the north of the Saqqara step pyramid. Unas pyramid is an unassuming pile of loose blocks that stands 43 m high with a slope of 56°. The king’s burial chamber measures 57.8 m to aside.

The pyramid of Unas is highly built in a manner similar to the pyramid of Djedkare. It is decorated with a ceiling adorned with stars and white alabaster-lined walls inscribed with enchanting hieroglyphs, which are known for being the earliest example of funerary inscriptions. The core of the masonry consists of accreted blocks encased with a fine limestone casing. Unfortunately, the pyramid fell into decay during the new kingdom (1570-1050 BC).

The Pyramid of Unas Complex Contents

Pyramid of Unas Complex – Egypt Tours Portal

Unas’s pyramid complex is found in the southwest corner of Djoser’s complex in Saqqara, which showcases the quintessential components of mortuary complexes that date to the Old Kingdom. The layout includes a valley temple at the Wadi mouth, a causeway built along the Wadi’s path, a mortuary temple next to Djedkare Isesi’s design, a cult pyramid south of the mortuary temple, and the main pyramid. It was surrounded by a 7-meter-tall perimeter wall. The complex spans 86 meters from northeast to northwest and 76 meters from the north side to the south side.

Main Pyramid

Despite Unas’s reign lasting 30-33 years, his pyramid, the smallest of the Old Kingdom, reflects resource constraints rather than time limitations. To avoid extensive quarrying, Unas kept the pyramid small, constructed in six steps using locally sourced extremely dressed limestone blocks encased with fine tura white limestone. The intact casing on the lowest steps can still be seen today, thus revealing the original grandeur. The pyramid’s dimensions include a base length of 57.75 meters, converging leading to the climax at a 56° angle, resulting in a height of 43 meters upon completion. Unfortunately, like other Fifth Dynasty pyramids, Unas’s has been ruined due to poor construction methods and weak materials. During the New Kingdom, pyramids were systematically dismantled for the construction of new tombs.

Breaking from tradition, Unas opted not to build pyramids for his consorts. Instead, Queens Nebet and Khenut were interred in a double mastaba located on the northeast section of the main pyramid. Despite identical tomb layouts, each queen had separate rooms and entrances. Decorated chambers highlighted their individuality. Nebet’s mastaba chapel, featuring Unas’s cartouche, possibly held a king’s statue, while queen statues adorned the others. On the northern side of the mastaba, tombs belonging to Unas’s son Unasankh and daughter Iput, along with a daughter called Hemetre, are buried on the western side of Djoser’s complex.

Substructure

The substructure of Unas’s pyramid includes a north chapel, a vertical corridor leading to a vestibule, a horizontal passage guarded by granite slab portcullises, an antechamber, a Serdab with recesses, and the burial chamber with a gabled roof. Unas’s coffin, made of greywacke, was found near the burial chamber’s west wall. The burial chamber’s walls were adorned with white alabaster depicting royal palace doors, symbolically allowing the king to depart in any direction.

The blue-painted ceilings in the burial chamber and antechamber, adorned with gold stars, mimicked the night sky. Traces of Unas’s mummy and artifacts, including a canopic chest, were discovered, with the mummy fragments displayed in the Egyptian Museum of Cairo. The walls of the chambers featured written texts in vertical order, chiseled in bas-relief, and painted in the color blue, providing a fascinating glimpse into ancient Egyptian burial practices and construction techniques.

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Valley Temple

Unas’s Valley temple is strategically located at the convergence of a wadi and a lake, forming a natural harbor. Positioned between the temples of Nyuserre Ini and Pepi II, it adheres to traditional Old Kingdom architecture.

The temple, adorned with high-quality palm granite columns, features a complex layout with a main entrance on the east side leading to halls, secondary entrances, and a main cult hall. The temple’s richness in decoration aligns with the causeway and mortuary temple, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship.

Causeway

The causeway linking Unas’s valley temple to the mortuary temple spans an impressive length of 720 to 750 meters, rivaling Khufu’s pyramid causeway. Uniquely preserved, it required intricate construction over uneven terrain and repurposed stones from Djoser’s causeway. Decorated interior walls depict diverse scenes, including hunting, harvests, market activities, battles, and symbolic representations.

Notably, a scene of famished desert nomads sparked interpretations, suggesting social, climatic, or symbolic implications. The causeway also covers tombs, indicating potential tomb-robbing.

Mortuary Temple

Unas’s mortuary temple closely resembles Djedkare Isesi’s, but a distinctive pink granite doorway added by Teti separates it from the causeway. The entrance hall, with a vaulted ceiling and alabaster floor, leads to a courtyard with eighteen pink granite columns. The inner temple, accessible through a staircase, contains storerooms, an antechamber, and a quartzite column, symbolizing sun worship.

The temple’s storerooms, irregularly placed, housed offerings for the royal funerary cult. The purpose of the cult pyramid within the complex remains unclear, possibly serving symbolic or ritual roles rather than as a burial site.

Intricate details, such as reused columns in later constructions and reliefs depicting daily life, add depth to Unas’s pyramid complex. The discoveries of tombs, including those of palace officials and court singers, provide a fascinating glimpse into the broader socio-cultural context of the Fifth Dynasty in ancient Egypt. Overall, the architectural and artistic elements of Unas’s mortuary complex reflect the grandeur and complexity of Old Kingdom funerary practices.

Pyramid Of Unas Texts & Incantations

Hieroglyphics in the Interior of the Pyramid of Unas – Egypt Tours Portal

The Pyramid Texts, which are inscribed on the subterranean walls of Unas’s pyramid, are the earliest known extensive religious writings in ancient Egypt of the old kingdom, which consist of 283 spells out of at least 1,000. They originated in Unas’s pyramid but were found in later pyramids until the end of the Old Kingdom. The texts showcased their belief system, which involved three components of an individual: body, ka, and ba. Upon death, the Ka returned to the ancient Egyptian gods, while the ba remained with the body. The Akhet, symbolizing birth or resurrection, played a crucial role in the journey to the afterlife. The texts aimed to transform the deceased into an “Akh” for eternal life among the gods.

Unas’s burial chamber inscriptions include spells protecting the sarcophagus and mummy, with rituals dedicated to offerings, resurrection, and the king’s control over sustenance. The king, identified as both himself and the god Osiris, undergoes rituals connecting him to other deities. The writings on the west gable are analyzed by expert Egyptologists. The Pyramid Texts later evolved into the Coffin Texts during the Middle Kingdom, retaining old conventions and influencing the Book of the Dead in the New Kingdom. These texts persisted for two millennia before fading around the time of Christianity’s adoption in the first century.

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