The pyramid of Pharaoh Merenre was constructed for Merenre Nemtyemsaf I during the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt at Saqqara 450 metres (1,480 ft) to the southwest of the pyramid of Pepi I and a similar distance to the pyramid of Djedkare. Its ancient name was “Merenre’s Beauty Shines” or perhaps “The Perfection of Merenre Appears”. Today, it consists mainly of ruins; it is hard to get to and is not open to the public.
The pyramid has not been investigated extensively. Perring examined it in the 1830s and noted fine white limestone casing blocks within the rubble, which are no longer in sight today. Later, in the 1880s, Maspero entered the subterranean chambers of the pyramid looking for pyramid text, and today, it is being investigated by a French team under the direction of Leclant. However, much of what we know of the pyramid comes from biographies of high officials such as Uni, who provided valuable information on the origin of the materials used to build the pyramid. We know there was pink granite from Aswan, alabaster from Hatnub, and dark greywacke from Ibhat, which was used to construct the pyramidion and sarcophagus.
Location of the Pyramid of Merenre
The badly ruined pyramid of Merenre I was built 450 metres to the southwest of the pyramid of Pepi I and the same distance to the west of the pyramid of Djedkare at Saqqara South.
The layout of the Pyramid of Merenre
The plan of the pyramid is much in question, and little is known about most of the complex. We know nothing of his valley temple, though there must have been one because Perring tells us of a causeway about two hundred fifty meters long. It went around the pyramid of Djedkare’s. He also noted a perimeter wall made of mudbrick.
The Pyramid of Merenre was built 52.5 metres (172 ft 3 in) in height and 78.75 metres (258 ft 4 in) in base length with an inclination of 53°07’48”. The causeway is 250 metres (820 ft) long, and a mudbrick wall surrounds the complex.
Only traces of the mortuary temple have been found, and the evidence indicates that construction was halted abruptly at one point and never resumed, probably upon the pharaoh’s death.
Also, not much is known of the pyramid’s mortuary temple. However, Maspero made a simple ground plan of the pyramid’s interior, which was not essentially different from Pepi I’s pyramid. It is possible that the pyramid text in Merenre’s pyramid was placed in the same positions as the text in Pepi I’s pyramid.
The pyramid is entered from the north side, which leads into a descending corridor. The corridor leads first to a vestibule and then continues along a second corridor that was probably level or became level. Within this corridor is a barrier made up of three substantial granite blocks. This corridor leads to an antechamber. An entrance in this chamber’s right wall leads to the burial chamber, while to the left is another small room.
In the burial chamber, a sarcophagus stood on the west wall and was decorated with beautiful polychrome reliefs with the royal palace facade motif. The ceiling had an astronomical theme with white stars oriented westward on a black background. The only other burial equipment noted were two alabaster shells and a small wooden knob or handled for a chest.
Excavations
The pyramid was first examined in the 1830s by John Perring. Later, in the 1880s, the subterranean chambers were explored by Gaston Maspero, who was searching for Pyramid Texts; his expedition discovered a mummy inside the pyramid. It was thought to be from some later burial, although some modern scholars now believe it was the mummy of Merenre after all. If so, that would make it the oldest-known royal mummy. Since the late 20th century, a French team led by Jean Leclant has been researching the site.
Maspero found the mummy of really a child within the pyramid. His hair was combed into a side curl as those children wore in ancient Egypt. Because of the mummy’s wrappings, scholars initially decided this was a later burial, perhaps of the 18th Dynasty. Merenre was a king of the 6th Dynasty. However, today, Egyptologists are rethinking this decision, deciding that it might be the mummy of Merenre after all. Perhaps one reason Egyptologists initially believed it was not the mummy of Merenre may have been because it would have been the oldest known purposely mummified body. Recently, other mummified bodies dating to the predynastic period have been found. Regardless of whether it is the mummy of Merenre, it is the oldest known royal mummy.
