Page 90 - آثار مصر الفرعونية الجزء الأول

covered corridor built of limestone and lined on its exterior by
pink granite blocks. Within it may have been decorated with
reliefs.

The Mortuary Temple

The causeway enters the mortuary temple near the south end
of its front facade.

The mortuary temple, unlike later pyramid complexes, did
not border directly against the pyramid but was rather separated
from its east wall by the pyramid courtyard. Rectangular in its
ground plan, it is oriented east-west and has walls built of local
limestone that are cased in finer limestone, a technique
introduced in this structure. Inside, the building was almost
completely lined with granite. The mortuary temple has, in its
elemental design, the basics for the mature mortuary temples
ultimately perfected by Sahure at Abusir, including an entrance
hall, an open courtyard, five statue chapels, various storehouses
and an offering hall. This structure marks a reaf architectural
advance, being both larger then previous examples and for the
first time, including all five elements that were to become
standard.

The entrance to the mortuary temple in the east led through
to a small antechamber adorned with a pair of monolithic pink
granite pillars. About the entrance area were a few small

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