Page 60 - اثار مصر الفرعونية2

satellite pyramid which adjoins the mortuary temple.

The pyramid of Teti was investigated by Perring in 1839 but
was first entered by Maspero in 1882 during his quest for
pyramid texts. It was excavated by James Quibell in 1907-8 and
during the latter part of the 20th century by Jean-Philippe Laure
and Pierre Leclant and others.

The pyramid complex was called 'Teti's (cult) places are
enduring' and follows the plan of Dynasty V structures, similar to
that of Teti's predecessor Unas. The king's pyramid consisted a
core of five levels of masonry encased in small locally-quarried
limestone blocks, some of which are still in situ on the eastern
side. The original height of the pyramid is thought to have been
over 50m and its length on each side is 78.5m. The structure
today however, is little more than a rounded hill of rubble,
having suffered much robbing of its stone in antiquity when the
area was used as a quarry over the centuries.

The entrance to the substructure was found on the pyramid's
northern side, underneath a pavement in the northern entrance
chapel, which had the usual offering reliefs on its walls. A
descending granite-lined passage leads to a horizontal corridor
which was originally blocked by three granite portcullis slabs.
The vestibule or antechamber, which like others of the period lies
directly under the centre of the pyramid and also like the others
had vaulted ceilings of huge limestone blocks which continued

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