| Location |
Google map and photos 29.89N - 31.12E
Lower Egypt - 5 kilometers north of Saqqara
West bank of Nile, bordering the Sahara Desert
|
| Nome |  White fortress - the 1st
Nome of Lower Egypt |
| Type of Settlement | Royal necropolis of the Old Kingdom's 5th Dynasty
|
| Local deity | Osiris |
| Ancient name | Egyptian Per-Usir "The house of Osiris "
|
| Historical Development |
Old Kingdom - The first Pharaoh to start building at Abusir was Userkaf, the founder of the 5th Dynasty, He built a unique sun temple.
The presence of Abusir Lake made the site easily accessible by boat
|
| Monuments |
There are seven 5th Dynasty pyramids at this site.
The quality of construction of the Abusir pyramids is inferior to those of the 4th Dynasty
Abusir was the origin of the largest find of Old Kingdom papyri — the Abusir Papyri.
The three major pyramids are those of Niuserre, Neferirkare and Sahure.
The site is also home to the incomplete Pyramids of Neferefre and Shepseskare
All of the major pyramids at Abusir were built as step pyramids
The Pyramid of Neferirkare was built as a 6-step pyramid 52m high, and then later transformed into a "true" pyramid by having its steps filled in with loose masonry, and reached a height of 72m
The Abusir Papyri - the largest find of Old Kingdom's papyri to date
|
