Amenemhet II Nubkaure was the son of Senwosret I and the third king of
Dynasty XII who chose to site his pyramid in the Old Kingdom
necropolis at Dahshur, to the north-east of Snefru's 'Bent Pyramid'.
The monument which is now little more than a scattered pile of eroded
mudbricks, is curiously known as the 'White Pyramid' - its casing of
white Tura limestone was removed by robbers and revealed a core
framework of limestone, which when quarried, left piles of white
chippings around the base of the structure which perhaps gave the
pyramid its name. The monument's ancient name was 'Amenemhet
Provides'.
Jacques de Morgan investigated the area in 1894-1895, but was
understandably more interested in excavating the surrounding tombs of
royal ladies and high officials which revealed treasures. Because the
base of the structure has never been properly cleared, its base length
is only estimated, at around 50m and its height and angle have never
been determined. Neither has the mortuary temple, causeway and valley
temple been systematically excavated.
The pyramid's entrance was in the centre of its northern side, beneath
an entrance chapel. A straight passage descended to a short horizontal
corridor before it reached the burial chamber beneath the pyramid's
vertical axis. A barrier formed by two large granite slabs blocked the
entrance. The subterranean chamber was constructed with four niches,
probably intended for statues or burial goods, and a hidden lower
chamber below the horizontal corridor. The ceilings of both the
passages and burial chamber were flat, but protected from the weight
of the stone by a gabled roof above. A quartzite sarcophagus was set
into the floor against the western wall.
The funerary temple on the eastern side of the pyramid has been almost
completely destroyed although de Morgan found fragments of reliefs
during his investigation and two huge pylon-like structures at its
entrance. The whole complex was surrounded by a rectangular enclosure
wall, similar to those around Dynasty III pyramids.
Behind the pyramid, on its western side and inside the enclosure wall,
de Morgan discovered the intact burials of Princesses Ita, Itweret,
and Queen Khnemet, as well as the tombs of Prince Amenemhetankh and
Princess Sithathormeret. The burials of Ita and Khnemet especially,
revealed rich treasures of jewellery and burial goods which are now on
display in Cairo Museum. |
