page_title: Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi
section_title: Causeway
hierarchical_section_title: Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi / Mortuary complex / Causeway
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: Zugang zum Totentempel mit Überresten der "Pylone"/ turmartigen Gebäuden und dahinter Pyramide des Djedkare-Isesi, späte 5. Dynastie, ca. 2400 v. Chr., Saqqara-Süd
context_page_description: The Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi is a late 25th to mid 24th century BC pyramid complex built for the Fifth Dynasty pharaoh Djedkare Isesi. The pyramid is referred to as Haram el-Shawaf by locals. It was the first pyramid to be built in South Saqqara.
  Djedkare Isesi's monument complex encompasses: a main pyramid; a mortuary temple situated on the east face of the main pyramid; a valley temple buried under modern Saqqara; a causeway that has been only partially dug out; and a cult pyramid. The main pyramid had a six-stepped core built from roughly cut limestone bound together by clay mortar which was then encased in fine white Tura limestone reaching a peak height of 52.5 m. The casing has been plundered, and the top three steps of the core have been lost, leaving the pyramid a paltry 24 m tall. The basic dimensions of Djedkare's pyramid were adopted by succeeding kings in their own funerary monuments. Inside Djedkare Isesi's pyramid substructure, remains of the burial have been found alongside the mummy remains of Djedkare Isesi himself. The mummy and linen wrapping have undergone Carbon-14 dating which have given a common range of 2886–2507 BC.
context_section_description: The causeway that leads up to the mortuary temple has not been excavated, though it is known to have a straight sloped path, running slightly southwards, and a length of 220 m (722 ft; 420 cu). The ground where the mortuary temple was to be constructed had a sharp downward slope towards the desert, and needed extensive preparation before the laying of the foundation. Dimensions for the causeway are speculative, based only on the trace remains of existing foundations. The causeway had walls approximately 2.4 m (7.9 ft) thick, with a path between them no more than 2.6 m (8.5 ft) wide. The height of the structure remains unknown, though it is clear that it had a ceiling and was covered based on blocks found painted with stars, a typical motif for the ceiling. It appears to have been made entirely of white limestone, the same material that makes up the causeway to Sahure's pyramid. The walls were clearly decorated with raised relief. The causeway connects to the temple entrance hall between two large pylon structures, an innovation from Nyuserre's pyramid, which were square with slightly inclined walls. The pylons were once 6 m (20 ft; 11 cu) tall, but have since been reduced to 4.5 m (15 ft). There may have been stairs leading up to the terrace, but likely had no rooms inside. Their function remains a mystery. Alongside the causeway, leading towards the courtyard of the temple, a water drain was discovered. The drain was made of crudely cut blocks of quartzite that had been carelessly set. No traces of the drain have been found in the entrance hall or courtyard.
caption: Remnants of the causeway and pylons with Djedkare's pyramid in the background
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