Popielska-Grzybowska, Joanna [Hrsg.]; Central European Conference of Young Egyptologists <1, 1999, Warszawa> [Hrsg.]: Proceedings of the first Central European Conference of Young Egyptologists: Egypt 1999: perspectives of research, Warsaw 7 - 9 June 1999 (Warsaw, 2001)

Beata Piqtek
Warsaw

The Development of the Teti Pyramid Necropolis (Jd-12th Dynasty).

Perspectives of the Research

(Plates 18-22)

For 150years, archaeologists and historians
of ancient Egypt have been deeply interested in
the North Sakkara area, including the tombs
situated around the Teti pyramid. This necropolis
is a very important data source, not only for the
history of Teti and the 6th dynasty rule but also
for the later periods. The archaeological mate-
rial, preserved from the period of the Old King-
dom till the Middle Kingdom, in which the Teti’s
cult was still alive, gives us the opportunity to
catch a glimpse of significant adininistrative, so-
cial and religious changes. It is particularly im-
portant for the less well known First Interme-
diate Period. In the present article, the devel-
opment of the nearby Teti pyramid cemetery
has been presented, according to actual knowl-
edge. The difficulty is the precise dating of the
subsequent stages as well as of particular monu-
ments. We have for example: 6th dynasty - be-
ginning of the First Intermediate Period or 10-
11th dynasty. New essential dating source should
be a result of the author’s investigations of in-
scribed material of the First Intermediate Pe-
riod, which has not been studied yet as a whole.
It consists mainly of the Memphis necropolis
false doors and also offering tables, fragments
of stelae and blocks. The before mentioned
subject forms the author’s dissertation, whereas

1 J.E. PERRING, The Pyramids of Gizeh, vol. 3, Lon-
don 1842, pl. VIII.

2 J. MALEK, King Merikare and his Pyramid, Hom-
mages à Jean Leclant, BdE 106, vol. 4, Varia, Le Caire
1993, pp. 203-14.

3 C.R. LEPSIUS, Denkmaeler aus Aegypten und
Aethiopien, vol. 1, Genève 1972, pl. 33.

4 C.M. FTRTH, B. GUNN, Teti Pyramid Cemeteries, vol.
1, London 1926, p. 3.

5 J.Ph. LAUER, J. LECLANT, Le temple haut du

this article will concentrate on the history of the
Teti pyramid cemetery.

Excavation works.

On the first North Sakkara map (pl. 18), the
area, which is under discussion, was given
number 1 by J.S. PERRING.1 The pyramids
ofTeti andMerikara2 situated there, R. LEP-
SIUS numbered as XXX and XXIX.3 In 1842/
43, R. LEPSIUS excavated the area directly
to the North oftheTeti pyramid,4 while in 1881,
G. MASPERO uncovered fragments of the
Teti’s upper temple5 and the pyramid of
Merikara. In 1905-7, J.E. QUIBELL explored
the “wide” cemetery located 200 m to the East
of the Teti pyramid and dated to the 10-11th
dynasty. The 3rd dynasty anonymous mastaba
was used to build the afore mentioned cem-
etery.

J.E. QUIBELL and A.G. HAYTER directed
the next archaeological seasons.6 In 1920-22,
C.M. FIRTH continued their work. Northward
and eastward of the Teti pyramid, the scholar
excavated mastabas of the 6th and 12th dynasty
and numerous tombs of the First Intermediate
Period.7 In 1930, FIRTH explored the Merikara
pyramid remains.8

complexe funéraire du roi Teti, vol. 1, BdE 51, Cairo
1972, p. 1.

6 J.E. QUIBELL, A.G. HAYTER, Excavations at
Sakkara. Teti Pyramid, North Side, Cairo 1927.

7 FIRTH, GUNN, op. cit., passim

8 C.M. FIRTH, ASAE 30 (1930), p. 187; J. BERLANDINI,
RdE 31 (1979), pp. 8-10; D.G. JEFFREYS, H.S. SMITH,
The Anubieion at Saqqâra. The Settlement and the
Temple Precinct, vol. 1, London 1988, pp. 1-2.

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