Pyramid of Amenemhet I, Ancient Egyptian pyramid in Lisht, Egypt

The Pyramid of Amenemhet I is an ancient Egyptian pyramid located at Lisht in Giza Governorate, south of Cairo. It was built with a limestone casing over a rubble core and today stands much lower than its original height, with much of its outer surface gone.

Amenemhet I built this pyramid around 1991 BC after founding the 12th Dynasty and moving the royal capital closer to Lisht. The choice of this location helped establish a new political and religious center after a long period of unrest in Egypt.

The site sits in Lisht, a village that served as a royal burial ground during the Middle Kingdom. Around the main structure, smaller tombs of courtiers and officials can still be seen, showing how closely the royal court and its burial customs were tied together.

The site is off the main tourist routes, so visiting early in the day makes it easier to walk around without crowds. The interior chambers are not accessible due to groundwater flooding, so the visit focuses on the exterior and the nearby tombs.

The pyramid's ancient name was Chau-isut-Imen-em-hat, "The places of the appearances of Amenemhat". Each part of the complex carried its own name, a 12th Dynasty practice: the cult complex was called Qa-nefer-Imen-em-hat, "High in perfection is Amenemhat".