Pyramid of Merenre, Egyptian pyramid in Saqqara, Egypt.
The Pyramid of Merenre in Saqqara was designed as a smooth-sided pyramid with a base of about 78.6 metres and a height of about 52.4 metres, but it was never finished and today appears as a low mound of brown earth and loose stone. Its ancient name was "Merenre's beauty shines" or perhaps "The Perfection of Merenre Appears". A small dark opening is visible on the upper right slope.
The monument was built during the Sixth Dynasty around 2270 BC for Pharaoh Merenre Nemtyemsaf I. It stands approximately 450 meters southwest of the pyramid complex of Pharaoh Pepi I.
The burial chamber displays reliefs showing royal palace designs, while the ceiling above features stars and patterns related to the night sky.
The pyramid is not open to the public and is hard to reach, standing in open desert about 450 m south-west of Pepi I's pyramid. There are no facilities or shade, so access should be arranged in advance and the ruins viewed from a distance.
The structure may house one of the oldest known royal mummies, discovered during archaeological exploration in the 1880s. This finding ranks among the most important discoveries made during the early excavations of the area.
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