Egypt uncovers 'missing' pyramid of a pharaoh (Menkauhor, obscure ruler over 4000 years ago)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 6/5/08 | Katarina Kratovac - ap

[NormsRevenge]

SAQQARA, Egypt - Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered the "missing pyramid" of a pharaoh and a ceremonial procession road where high priests carried mummified remains of sacred bulls, Egypt's antiquities chief said Thursday.

Zahi Hawass said the pyramid — of which only the base remains — is believed to be that of King Menkauhor, an obscure pharaoh who ruled for only eight years more than 4,000 years ago.

In 1842, German archaeologist Karl Richard Lepsius mentioned Menkauhor's pyramid among his finds at Saqqara, calling it the "Headless Pyramid" because its top was missing, Hawass said.

But the desert sands covered Lepsius' discovery, and no archaeologist since was able to find it.

"We have filled the gap of the missing pyramid," Hawass told reporters on a tour of the discoveries at Saqqara, the necropolis and burial site of the rulers of ancient Memphis, the capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom, south of Cairo.

Only the pyramid's base — or the superstructure as archeologists call it — was found after a 25-foot-high mound of sand was removed over the past year and a half by Hawass' team.

The base was in a 15 foot-deep pit dug out by workers, with heaps of huge rocks marking its entrance and walls. A burial chamber also was discovered.

Hawass said the style of the pyramid and of a gray granite sarcophagus lid found in the burial chamber indicates the pyramid was from the Fifth Dynasty, a period that began in 2,465 B.C. and ended in 2,325 B.C.

The period spanned approximately 140 years of the Old Kingdom. That would put it about two centuries after the completion of the Great Pyramid of Giza, believed to have been finished in 2,500 B.C.

Archaeologists have not found a cartouche — a pharoah's name in hieroglyphs — of the pyramid's owner. But Hawass said that, based on the estimated dating of the pyramid, he was convinced it belonged to Menkauhor.

The second discovery Hawass announced Thursday was a part of a ceremonial procession road, dating back to the Ptolemaic period, which ran for about 300 years before 30 B.C.

It runs alongside Menkauhor's pyramid, leading from a mummification chamber toward the Saqqara Serapium, a network of underground tombs where sacred bulls were interred, discovered by French archaeologist August Mariette in 1850.

A high priest would carry the mummified bulls' remains down the road — the only human allegedly allowed to walk on it — to the chambers where the bulls would be placed in sarcophagi in the Serapium, about a third of a mile away, he said.

Ancient Egyptians considered Apis Bulls to be earthy incarnations of the city god of Memphis and connected with fertility and the sun-cult.

A bull would be chosen for its deep black coloring and would be required to have a single white mark between the horns. Selected by priests and honored until death, it was mummified and buried in the Serapium's underground galleries.

The sprawling archaeological site at Saqqara is most famous for the Step Pyramid of King Djoser — the oldest of Egypt's over 100 pyramids, built in the 27th century B.C.

[NormsRevenge]

Workers are seen at the site of a so-called 'missing' pyramid, currently only a heap of rocks at the bottom of a dugout pit shown to media Thursday, June 5, 2008, at Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's chief archeologist Zahi Hawass says his team has uncovered the missing pyramid of an ancient Pharaoh who ruled more than 4,000 years ago and a ceremonial procession road where High Priests carried mummified remains of sacred bulls worshipped in Memphis, the capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

[Abathar]

I’ve lost my dog and car keys before, but you have to actually work to lose a pyramid.

[NormsRevenge]

.

Workers are seen at the site of a so-called 'missing' pyramid, currently only a heap of rocks at the bottom of a dugout pit shown to media Thursday, June 5, 2008, at Saqqara, south of Cairo, Egypt. Egypt's chief archeologist Zahi Hawass says his team has uncovered the missing pyramid of an ancient Pharaoh who ruled more than 4,000 years ago and a ceremonial procession road where High Priests carried mummified remains of sacred bulls worshipped in Memphis, the capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser) )

[shineon]

I think I met Menkauhor in Boston in the ‘70’s when I was attending the Berklee College of Music. He walked around in the Summer and carried a long stick. He used to call himself ‘Tut.

Just kidding...

[Slapshot68]

Scientists still discovering historical items, antiquities...still discovering new species of plants/animals...but know for certain that our climate is the worst it’s ever been compared to thousands and millions of years ago. lol

[nothingnew]

Pong

FMCDH(BITS)

[Grizzled Bear]

A high priest would carry the mummified bulls' remains down the road —

The priest carried WHAT??? Oh! Mummified Bulls!

[Theo]

Is the gray rectangular block from the pyramid, or something modern used during the excavation?

[reagan_fanatic]

Should have called Indy - he would have found this thing in no time.

[Adder]

The guy ruled for only 8 yrs....maybe a heap of rocks was all there ever was....

[RightWhale]

The gray block looks like it will be a tourists’ information sign.

[Theo]

Makes sense. Thanks for the reply.

[Red Badger]

Missing Pryamid PING!!!>.........

[Fractal Trader]

ggg ping

[blam]

Ancient Egyptian City Unearthed in Sinai

[tarheelswamprat]

A bull would be chosen for its deep black coloring and would be required to have a single white mark between the horns. Selected by priests and honored until death, it was mummified and buried in the Serapium's underground galleries.

Now that's what I call "aged" beef!

[Tzimisce]

Interesting....

[SunkenCiv]

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	Gods Graves Glyphs	Thanks Red Badger and Fractal Trader. In 1842, German archaeologist Karl Richard Lepsius mentioned Menkauhor's pyramid among his finds at Saqqara, calling it the "Headless Pyramid" because its top was missing, Hawass said... "We have filled the gap of the missing pyramid," Hawass told reporters on a tour of the discoveries at Saqqara, the necropolis and burial site of the rulers of ancient Memphis, the capital of Egypt's Old Kingdom, south of Cairo. Missing pyramid? Zowie really runs a tight ship. His so-called "Valley of the Golden Mummies" was discovered when a mule carrying someone to some destination stepped into a hole in the ground. The second discovery Hawass announced Thursday was a part of a ceremonial procession road, dating back to the Ptolemaic period, which ran for about 300 years before 30 B.C. ...and boy were its legs tired! /rimshot Ancient Egyptians considered Apis Bulls to be earthy incarnations of the city god of Memphis and connected with fertility and the sun-cult. Supposedly, the deity called Serapis was invented by one of the Ptolemaic (Macedonian/Greek) pharaohs because the old stuff was getting, well, pretty old. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are Blam, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
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[ApplegateRanch]

Hawass said... "We have filled the gap of the missing pyramid,"

Did he use cement, stone, of that crushed shells & lime mortar stuff?

Or did he just hire a bunch of guys hanging out at Pyramid Depot's parking lot, and let them use whateve they wanted?

[valkyry1]

No your not, that guy was all over the place!