The Lepsius list of pyramids is a list of sixty-seven ancient Egyptian pyramids established in 1842–1843 by Karl Richard Lepsius (1810–1884), an Egyptologist and leader of the "Prussian expedition to Egypt" from 1842 until 1846.

The Lepsius list of pyramid is the first attempt at systematically listing all the Egyptian pyramids, and as such, is a pioneering effort of early modern Egyptology. The list was published together with the results of the expedition in Lepsius work Denkmäler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien (1849–1859).

List

History

Following the success of the Franco-Tuscan Expedition to Egypt under the leadership of Jean-François Champollion, the Prussian scientists Alexander von Humboldt and Robert Wilhelm Bunsen and the minister of instruction Johann Eichhorn recommended to king Frederick William IV that an expedition be sent to Egypt. Karl Richard Lepsius, who had learned of Champollion's method to decipher the hieroglyphs and had met Ippolito Rosellini of the Franco-Tuscan Expedition, was chosen to lead it. The main aim of the expedition was to explore and record the remains of the ancient Egyptian civilization as well as to gather materials for the Egyptian Museum of Berlin.

The Prussian expedition assembled in Alexandria in 1842 and quickly departed for Giza, which was reached in November that same year. Proceeding north to south, Lepsius's men then explored the pyramids field of Abusir, Saqqara, Dahshur and, in 1843, Hawara. Lepsius and team stayed for 6 months in total at these locations, as the Prussian expedition was the first to study and record Old Kingdom material in depth.

In total, Lepsius and his men uncovered a total of 67 pyramids and 130 tombs. The pyramids, dating from the Third Dynasty (c. 2686–2613 BCE) until the Thirteenth Dynasty (c. 1800–1650 BCE), were given Roman numerals from north to south, starting from Abu Rawash in the north. Although a few of the structures reported by Lepsius are now known to have been mastabas and other monumental structures (highlighted on the list below in light gray), the Lepsius list of pyramids is still considered a pioneering achievement of modern Egyptology. Lepsius' numerals have remained the standard designation for some of the pyramids.

The results of the Prussian expedition to Egypt, comprising the list of pyramids, were published in the Denkmäler aus Aegypten und Aethiopien.

Pyramids Lepsius Number Location Modern identification Image I Abu Rawash Pyramid Lepsius I II Abu Rawash Pyramid of Djedefre III Abu Rawash Pyramid complex of Djedefre, subsidiary pyramid IV Giza Great Pyramid of Giza V Giza North subsidiary pyramid of Khufu's, G1-a VI Giza Middle subsidiary pyramid of Khufu's, G1-b VII Giza South subsidiary pyramid of Khufu's, G1-c VIII Giza Pyramid of Khafre IX Giza Pyramid of Menkaure X Giza West subsidiary pyramid of Menkaure's, G3-c XI Giza Middle subsidiary pyramid of Menkaure's, G3-b XII Giza East subsidiary pyramid of Menkaure's, G3-a XIII Zawyet el'Aryan Unfinished Northern Pyramid of Zawyet el'Aryan XIV Zawyet el'Aryan Layer Pyramid XV Abu Gorab Sun temple of Nyuserre Ini XVI Abusir Unidentified brick pyramid XVII Abusir Sun temple of Userkaf XVIII Abusir Pyramid of Sahure XIX Abusir Mastaba of vizier Ptahshepses XX Abusir Pyramid of Nyuserre XXI Abusir Pyramid of Neferirkare XXII Abusir Small satellite pyramid XXIII Abusir Small satellite pyramid XXIV Abusir Pyramid Lepsius XXIV, queen of Nyuserre Ini XXV Abusir Double Pyramid, queen of Nyuserre Ini or Neferefre, could be a double mastaba XXVI Abusir Pyramid of Neferefre XXVII Abusir Completely destroyed, only an outline is visible XXVIII Abusir Unfinished pyramid or a natural structure XXIX Saqqara Headless Pyramid of Menkauhor Kaiu XXX Saqqara Pyramid of Teti XXXI Saqqara Pyramid of Userkaf XXXII Saqqara Pyramid of Djoser XXXIII Saqqara North pavillon of Djoser's pyramid complex XXXIV Saqqara South pavillon of Djoser's pyramid complex XXXV Saqqara Pyramid of Unas XXXVI Saqqara Pyramid of Pepi I XXXVII Saqqara Pyramid of Djedkare-Isesi XXXVIII Saqqara Subsidiary pyramid of Djedkare's for Setibhor XXXIX Saqqara Pyramid of Merenre XL Saqqara Pyramid of Ibi XLI Saqqara Pyramid of Pepi II XLII Saqqara Subsidiary pyramid of Pepi II's for his queen Wedjebten XLIII Saqqara Mastabat al-Fir'aun of Shepseskaf XLIV Saqqara Pyramid of Khendjer XLV Saqqara 13th Dynasty structure XLVI Saqqara Southern South Saqqara pyramid XLVII Dahshur Pyramid of Senusret III XLVIII Dahshur Mastaba, unknown owner XLIX Dahshur Red Pyramid L Dahshur Lepsius-L Pyramid LI Dahshur Pyramid of Amenemhat II LII Dahshur Pylon of the temple of the pyramid of Amenemhat II LIII Dahshur Pylon of the temple of the pyramid of Amenemhat II LIV Dahshur Central Dahshur pyramid LV Dahshur Mastaba of vizier Siese LVI Dahshur Bent Pyramid LVII Dahshur Subsidiary pyramid of the bent pyramid LVIII Dahshur Pyramid of Amenemhat III LIX Dahshur Northern Mazghuna pyramid LX El-Lisht Pyramid of Amenemhat I LXI El-Lisht Pyramid of Senusret I LXII El-Lisht Mastaba, unknown owner LXIII El-Lisht Mastaba of Senewosret-Ankh LXIV El-Lisht Mastaba, possibly belonging to a private individual named Senusret LXV Meidum Pyramid of Meidum LXVI El-Lahun Pyramid of Senusret II LXVII Hawara Pyramid of Hawara, of Amenemhat III. Situated north of "The Labyrinth"

Lepsius' maps Lepsius drew maps of the locations his expedition visited and which regroup the pyramid listed above. They are presented below, from north to south.

References

Bibliography