99 also appears in the design of Snefru's southern funerary complex at Dashur, but as with its occurrence in Khufu's design, it may simply be a consequence of the geometry.


However, 99 may have been incorporated into the design for its symbolic / magical significance.


"......The number nine in Egyptian was indicative of a plurality of pluralities: the number three was the generic designation of multiplicity and nine (three times three) emphasizes that aspect....." (Betro 1996: 243)


The 'Big Ennead' (psDt aAt) at Iunu with its nine deities that incorporated the physical creation of the AE world, had a role to play in preserving the integrity of the royal pyramid:

Ho, Big Ennead in Iunu - Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys, Atum's children! His heart was stretched for (you), his children, in your identity of the Nine Bows. Let there be none of you who will turn his back to Atum as he saves this his work (the pyramid) from all the gods and from all the dead, as he prevents anything bad from happening to it for the course of eternity. N 359 (PT 600) Sethe Vol 1: 375 §1656b


O, Big Ennead in Iunu! You will make Pepi Neferkare be firm as you make this pyramid of Pepi Neferkare and this his work be firm for the course of eternity as the name of Atum, foremost of the Big Ennead, is firm. N 360 (PT 601); Sethe Vol 1: 377 §1660b


77 is another number found in the design. Khufu was a traditional Horus king with a Horus name - Horus's celestial boat was 770 cubits long.

The diagonal of a 70 x 70 square is to the nearest whole number, 99.

The number seven in the ancient near east seems to have symbolized something of the idea of 'completeness'

For example, from the "Amarna letters": "Beneath the feet [of the king, my lord,] seven times and seven times [I fall.]"

CT