The conceptualization (need) of a pyramid originated within the Temple of Heliopolis, and the first attempt to build a pyramid, that we are aware of, was the stepped pyramid complex of Djoser. This establishes that pyramids and their purpose belongs to the Heliopolitian solar cult (Re) mortuary complex. The capstone of a pyramid is in fact a scaled down miniature of the pyramid it's intended to be placed atop (Lehner 1999), clearly a relation exists between a pyramids capstone and the sacred benben stone of Heliopolis since it was known to the Old Kingdom Egyptians as the benben-et (Verner 2002). This name benben-et was also used to describe the pyramid shape atop Obelisks, but a relief discovered on the causeway of Sahure's pyramid complex depicts a celebratory procession of the King, dancers, singers and workman pulling a sled carrying the benben-et of his pyramid to his pyramid. Unfortunately the depiction of the sled and benben-et had been destroyed, but the hieroglyphs in registers describe both.

Clearly a pyramid functioned in or for the afterlife rituals of a kings mortuary complex, and it was an important component in the scheme. I find it remarkable that the functional aspect of a pyramid is not found (intimated) in the ritual incantations inscribed on the interior walls of Unas's pyramid. It's as if the functional aspect of a pyramid's size suddenly changed at the beginning of the 5th dynasty, the pyramid interior design (compartments and passages) of king Sahure became standardized for all remaining 5th and 6th dynasty rulers.

Each iteration of pyramid from Djoser on became unique in its placement and design, over time the interior aspects formalized into a standard first used by Sahure, and pyramid texts became tradition from Unas's pyramid on. What we learn by identifying these adaptions is that the precedent used by 3rd and 4th dynasty builders was more or less abandoned by 5th dynasty rulers and subsequently from Unas on Kings abandoned the solar temple obelisk component of the mortuary complex, which was introduced by the 5th dynasty kings. Therefore the functional aspect of a pyramid (within the mortuary complex) is dependent on the era in which it was built as the royal mortuary cults adopted/abandoned ritual innovations, so it should be considered and realized that a pyramids function evolved with the mortuary cult practices current with the king building for his afterlife.

B.A.Hokom



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/2023 01:59PM by Pistol.