GEM 6761

Pyramidion

This object is a pyramidion, the capstone that once sat atop a small, unfinished pyramid dating back to Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, 13th Dynasty (circa 1773–1677 BCE). Pyramidions were the crowning elements of pyramids—small but symbolically powerful, representing the benben, the primeval mound from which creation arose in Egyptian cosmology. Pyramidions were usually made of stone and often covered in gold or electrum to reflect the rays of the sun god Ra, linking the deceased king with divine solar rebirth. While many pyramidions were elaborately inscribed with the name and titles of the king they honored, this one is unusual—it is uninscribed and incomplete, with a rough surface and missing its decorative detailing. It was carved to match the angle and geometry of the pyramid it once crowned, but the structure itself was never completed. Due to the lack of inscriptions, the identity of the pyramid’s owner remains unknown. It was discovered in Saqqara, within a field of small pyramids attributed to lesser-known Middle Kingdom rulers. This modest yet important artifact gives us insight into the architectural and religious practices of a period marked by political fragmentation and shorter reigns. The pyramidion stood as a spiritual beacon—symbolizing the eternal connection between the deceased, the sun, and the cycle of rebirth—even when the grand pyramid below was never finished.This object is a pyramidion, the capstone that once sat atop a small, unfinished pyramid dating back to Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, 13th Dynasty (circa 1773–1677 BCE). Pyramidions were the crowning elements of pyramids—small but symbolically powerful, representing the benben, the primeval mound from which creation arose in Egyptian cosmology. Pyramidions were usually made of stone and often covered in gold or electrum to reflect the rays of the sun god Ra, linking the deceased king with divine solar rebirth. While many pyramidions were elaborately inscribed ... Discover more with Premium!

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