World Tourism / The Best Pyramids in the World / The Pyramid of Unas

The last king of the 5th dynasty was Unas who chose to raise up his own pyramid close to the southwest corner of Djoser's complex.  This place is the one  where the oldest religious texts in  the world were found. The Pyramid of Unas  is considered the smallest pyramid that belongs to the Old Kingdom, but the finest one in terms of bas reliefs. King Unas ruled Egypt for about 32 years. There is included an inscription on the south face of the pyramid, done by Khaemwaset, who was the son of Ramses II and High Priest at Memphis, and makes reference to his restoration work. Thus  the name of Unas came to live again. On the southern part of the ramp, at the first bend there are situated two boat pits lined beautifully with limestone. The causeway stops nearby the ticket entrance of the Saqqara necropolis close to the currently renovated Valley Temple.

Located  near the majestic  Step Pyramid of Zoser, the Pyramid of Unas can be  easily overlooked and admired, since it represents  not more than a vaguely pyramid shaped pile of rubble. This amazing pyramid was once a great part of an immense, walled funerary complex, tastefully decorated  with subsidiary cult pyramid and nice temple, and  it was connected through a causeway to the spectacular valley temple. Unfortunately,  none of this really exists nowadays. Appearances sometimes can be deceptive, anyway the Pyramid of Unas is recognised as a very significant archaeological monument. This pyramid  hosts the oldest known examples of the Pyramid texts, including also a series of religious and magic spells that were carved into the remarkable passageways and chambers of all the Royal pyramids, starting with the old times till the unas period. These unique spells and invocations are thought to form the basis of much of the ancient Egyptian belief system. But it is not allowed to pass into the Pyramid of Unas to see these wonderful carvings for yourself, because it seems to be closed for an undetermined restoration project.


When seen from the Zoser's Pyramid, the Unas Pyramid seems like nothing attractive, because it rises up more as a mound of rubble. Actually  what we see is the pyramid’s bad side. On the back side,  much of the original casing is still visible, offering a clear scenery of what the pyramids looked like when they were totally completed.
On the northern side, there is  a passageway that leads into the tomb. The corridors are surprisingly well kept, and the paintings on the wall look as if they  were painted yesterday. The chamber itself features  walls created from alabaster. The causeway of Unas Pyramid  is 750 metres long, having its end point in the Valley Temple, which can be admired, just  crossing  the road from the ticket office.
In its initial image, the causeway was roofed and designed with walls that were decorated by painted reliefs. The best example can be found in  Louvre in Paris.
The boat pits are absolutely incredible, not just long and the deep holes in the ground, but created  by perfectly carved stones.

Almost all the pyramids were designed with a valley temple, a gorgeous place where boats could arrive. The statues were loaded on to the temple grounds, where  the people embarked and ceremonies could be easily organized. The most interesting ritual of all was definitely the burial of the king, when his mummy was transported from the eastern side to the western side of the Nile, but there  were also performed annual rituals that supposed to commemorate the late king. Unas Valley Temple is well kept and still exists in good conditions. Most of its columns disappeared, but the platform and the stairways are almost completely untouched. The Pyramid of Unas represents a marvelous masterpiece that offers a glorious history spreaded ahead with exciting stories and important events. The magnificent pyramid with its Valley Temple is a splendid spot where to spend lovely moments, and to live an exciting adventure, exploring and discovering hidden secrets and legends.
 

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