TETI'S PYRAMID *SAQQARA XIV *Northeastern Monuments: Teti, was the first king of the VIth Dynasty, he chose to build his pyramid and adjourning complex to the North-East of the pyramid of Userkaf, and at the Southern end of the Archaic Tombs located at Saqqara-North.In choosing this location, Teti may have deliberately opted to build his pyramid along the diagonal formed by the pyramids of Sekhemkhet, Unas, Djoser and Userkaf (from South-West to North-East), thereby confirming his allegiance to Egypt's past. 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

• published: 21 Nov 2013
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