World Tourism / The Best Pyramids in the World / The Pyramid of Teti

The first king of the 6th Dynasty was Teti. His wife Iput was probably the daughter to Unas and the mother of Pepi I. The remarkable pyramid of Teti was founded at North Saqqara on a free area, located south of the 1st and 2nd Dynasty mastabas, just northeast of the pyramid of Userkaf. The valley temple and the causeway are missing, which is puzzling. The structure looks the same as the majority of the late 5th dynasty pyramids and the sizes are almost identical with the pyramid of Djedkare Isesi.

The pyramid of Teti suffered critical damage because of the quarrymen who removed not only the covering and a great part of the blocks of granite from the adjoining funerary temple, but also the limestone slabs that beautified the structure. The access passage which is situated on the north side takes the tourists into a vestibule and then continues its way to the burial chamber. The walls of the inner chambers are decorated with hieroglyphic inscriptions, and an immense sector which was smashed by stone quarrymen. During the time the walls have been restored.

The beautiful burial chamber, the vestibule and the corridor that give acces in the pyramid of Teti are inscribed with the Egyptian funerary texts well-known as the Pyramid Texts, being an incredible example set by Unas. The Pyramid Texts are cosidered the rituals and hymns that were said during the funeral. The spells and the sermons were said with the intention to help the pharaoh's soul to find Re, who was the sun god, in the so-called „afterworld”. Nothing was inscribed on the walls of the pyramids before the 5th dynasty started to follow this tradition.

The Pyramid of Teti follows a diagonal created carefully by the pyramids of Sekhemkhet , Unas, Djoser and Userkaf. The pyramid can be easily entered and features very amazing high relief in the interior chambers. It houses a basalt sarcophagus in a painted vault with stars on the ceiling. There are three wonderful pyramids in the immediate proximity, such as the Ba pyramid on the southeast side, the Queens pyramids of Iput mother of Pepi I , and Khuit that lies beautifully just north of Teti's pyramid close to the mastaba of Ankhmahor. Although there are many storerooms, the basic components and the layout that describe the mortuary temple are very similar to those of Djedkare and Unas as well. Anyway there is designed a small courtyard throughout the southern part of the east facade of the pyramid, which was united to the causeway. The current entrance to the mortuary temple was created in the middle of this courtyard which included a heavy, single paneled wooden door over a quartzite doorstep. The interesting corridor that served as an entrance was designed with an alabaster floor and its walls were also decorated with some of these fantastic relieves. This corridor runs to the mortuary temple courtyard that featured 18 pink granite pillars, all of them were square, out of those in corners. The ambulatory made over the great pillars was initially graved and it was decorated with scenes painted in polychrome on bas-relief. In the very heart of the courtyard a low stone alter once stayed. The walls of the corridor were originally decorated with nice scenes depicting the king and gods, the sed festival and the smiting of Egypt's enemies, offering a spectacular view.

The Pyramid of Teti was built in steps, nowadays some blocks of the outer casing can be seen on the east side, while the entirely pyramid is just a mound, being robbed for material during the last eras. The main entrance is on the centre axis, designed with a chapel over it. The pyramid included a stepped core with a smooth outer casing. Within the pyramid a corridor goes down from the north to a chamber. After this, a beautiful horizontal corridor passes by three portcullises before entering the marvelous antechamber, which is situated under the apex of the pyramid. The two main chambers of the pyramid featured a saddle roof that included three layers of massive limestone beams. Beyond the long and the narrow transverse hall stay rise up the inner apartments of the temple; a chamber with five cult niches followed by a square vestibule and the offering chapel itself, surrounded by magazines as well.

This pyramid represents a great destination for tourists who love to explore and to discover new secrets about the evolution of the pyramids. It is a wonderful example of the 5th dynasty style and attracts the visitors for its lovely, exciting interior and also for its huge aspect, rising up as a massive mountain, with many attractive sides. This pyramid relates many important events from the last periods reminding of some exclusive secrets, veiled in mystery and mystics. It is designed in a very excellent way, including treasured chambers and extraordinary spaces, featuring an incredible atmosphere.

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