Layer Pyramid, Step pyramid in Zawyet el'Aryan, Egypt
The Layer Pyramid in Zawyet el'Aryan is a limestone step pyramid standing 17 meters tall with five visible tiers and a square base. A central corridor beneath the structure connects 32 storage chambers that run through the interior.
Construction began during Egypt's Third Dynasty around 2630 BC under King Khaba. The site continued to serve as a burial ground for thousands of years, welcoming tombs from the earliest dynasties through the Roman period.
This burial complex served multiple generations as a place to honor the dead, showing how the site remained spiritually important across different eras. The layering of tombs from different periods reveals how later inhabitants continued to value the sacred nature of the location.
Access to the site is restricted as it sits within a military zone, making visits difficult and often impossible for tourists. Check in advance about current access restrictions before planning your trip.
Archaeologists discovered an unusual pink granite sarcophagus inside, standing apart from the standard rectangular burial containers of that era. This distinctive burial vessel reveals choices that set this royal tomb apart from others.
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