Pyramid of Teti

The pyramid of Teti was constructed at North Saqqara on the only remaining spot, south of the 1st and 2nd Dynasty mastabas and to the northeast of the pyramid of Userkaf. By this time, the layout of the complex, both inside and outside, had become almost standardised, though the chapel in front of the entrance to the tomb is somewhat of a novelty. The pyramid had a stepped core with a smooth outer casing. Inside, a corridor descends from the north to a chamber. After this, a further, horizontal corridor passes by three portcullises before entering the antechamber, located beneath the apex of the pyramid. The walls of this chamber and of the burial chamber to the west and to the tripartite antechamer to the east are covered with Pyramid Texts, as was the basalt sarcophagus. The two main chambers featured a saddle roof consisting of three layers of massive limestone beams. The mortuary complex outside was accessible by means of a valley temple and causeway, both now lost. Extensive magazines flanked the long entrance hall and the court behind, here surrounded by square granite pillars reminiscent of those of the 4th Dynasty. Beyond the long and narrow transverse hall lay the inner apartments of the temple; a chamber with five cult niches followed by a square vestibule and the offering chapel itself, also surrounded by magazines.

The factfiles below are based on M. Lehner's 'The Complete Pyramids', London, 1997 and P.A. Clayton's 'Chronicle of the Pharaohs', London, 1994.

Pyramid						Teti
Pharaoh	:	Teti				Birth name	:	Teti
Dynasty	:	6
Location	:	Saqqara				Father	:	?
Ancient name	:	'The Places of Teti Endure'				Mother	:	?
						Wives	:	Iput, Kawit, Weret-Imtes
Base	:	78.75 m				Son	:	Pepi I
Height	:	52.5 m				Daughter	:	Seshseshet
Volume (cu.m)	:	107.835
						Burial	:	Pyramid, North Saqqara