Abu Roash - Breaking New Ground
Abu Roash
Located 5 miles north of Giza, Abu Roash was the site that the first son of Khufu, Djedefre, chose to build his pyramid. Typically, as successor, it was Djedefre's responsibility to attend to the completion of his fathers entombment. It was then time for Djedefre to begin the construction of his own tomb. Because of the present state of the site, some experts believe that this pyramid was never finished. Others contend that extensive quarrying has been done at the site and the pyramid has been effectively dismantled over the ages. Whatever the case, the pyramid itself was unique in several ways. Firstly, the subterranean chamber is more like those of step pyramids, and therefore unlike that of the more modern "true" pyramids. Secondly, the angle of the pyramid may have been very steep, approx. 60 degrees, according to the angle of some of the recovered casing stones. Also, the descending chamber was very wide, about 14 feet wider in places than any other known pyramid. It is believed that at least some of the pyramid was cased in granite, most likely the lower courses, as is evidenced by the abundance of granite fragments scattered around the site. A boat pit was also found at the site, although it had been long since empty. The causeway of this pyramid was also atypical, running from noth to south, instead of the typical east to west orientation. Excavations on the early 1900's uncovered three red quartzite heads of Djedefre. Two are in the Louvre in Paris and one is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
Located 5 miles north of Giza, Abu Roash was the site that the first son of Khufu, Djedefre, chose to build his pyramid. Typically, as successor, it was Djedefre's responsibility to attend to the completion of his fathers entombment. It was then time for Djedefre to begin the construction of his own tomb. Because of the present state of the site, some experts believe that this pyramid was never finished. Others contend that extensive quarrying has been done at the site and the pyramid has been effectively dismantled over the ages. Whatever the case, the pyramid itself was unique in several ways. Firstly, the subterranean chamber is more like those of step pyramids, and therefore unlike that of the more modern "true" pyramids. Secondly, the angle of the pyramid may have been very steep, approx. 60 degrees, according to the angle of some of the recovered casing stones. Also, the descending chamber was very wide, about 14 feet wider in places than any other known pyramid. It is believed that at least some of the pyramid was cased in granite, most likely the lower courses, as is evidenced by the abundance of granite fragments scattered around the site. A boat pit was also found at the site, although it had been long since empty. The causeway of this pyramid was also atypical, running from noth to south, instead of the typical east to west orientation. Excavations on the early 1900's uncovered three red quartzite heads of Djedefre. Two are in the Louvre in Paris and one is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
The Pyramid of Djedefre - Breaking New Ground
Djedefre, son of Khufu, chose to build
his pyramid 5 miles north of Giza at a site now called Abu Roash. From this
vantage point there is a clear view of the pyramids of Giza. It is not known
whether or not this pyramid was unfinished, or quarried away, but little remains
of the superstructure of the pyramid. Estimates place its original base at about
380 feet, and casing stones have indicated a possible steep angle of 60 degrees!
Here is how the shaft and chamber appears from the upper rim, just above the
east wall
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