Pyramid of Teti | Egypt Pyramids

Location:

It is located in Central Saqqara just south of the 1st dynasty mastabas and northeast of Userkaf's pyramid

Who built it?

It was built by Teti , the first king of the 6th dynasty who ruled Egypt for some 32 years.

Why was it built?

This pyramid was built as the ancient Egyptians believe in resurrection. King Teti was buried in this pyramid according to the ancient Egyptian concept of life after death.

Explanation:

The 6th dynasty is considered a period of decline and indeed the Old Kingdom ended with the 6th dynasty after the 92 year reign of Pepi II . . Teti's pyramid follows a diagonal formed by the pyramids of Sekhemkhet , Unas, Djoser and Userkaf. There is some evidence from the nearby mastabas that Teti may come to the throne in unusual circumstances. The pyramid can be entered and has extremely beautiful high relief in the subterranean chambers. It contains a basalt sarcophagus in a pented vault with stars on the ceiling. There are three pyramids in the immediate area, the Ba pyramid on the southeast side, the Queens pyramids of Iput mother of Pepi I , and Khuit located just north of Teti's pyramid next to the mastaba of Ankhmahor.

Though there are more storerooms, the basic components and layout of the mortuary temple are also very similar to those of Djedkare and Unas . However, there is a small courtyard along the southern part of the east facade that was connected to the causeway. The actual entrance to the mortuary was in the middle of this courtyard and had a heavy, single paneled wooden door over a quartzite doorstep. The entrance corridor had a high, vaulted ceiling decorated with stars and lighted by only a small opening in the east wall. It had an alabaster floor and the walls were also decorated, though little remains of these relieves.

This corridor leads to the mortuary temple courtyard that had eighteen pink granite pillars, all of which were square except for those in the corners. As usual, the king's name and titles were inscribed in deep relief. The ambulatory over the pillars was originally inscribed and had scenes painted in polychrome on bas-relief. In the middle of the courtyard once stood a low stone alter.

To either side of the entrance hall and courtyard are symmetrically arranged storage annexes, and just behind the courtyard is the transverse corridor that we, so frequently, find dividing the outer part of the mortuary temple from the inner sanctums. The walls of the corridor were originally decorated with scenes showing the king and gods, the sed festival and the smiting of Egypt's enemies.