Columns & Lintel of King Sahure

Before you stand two columns and a lintel from the mortuary temple of King Sahure, a prominent ruler of Egypt’s 5th Dynasty, who reigned during the Old Kingdom around 2470–2445 BCE. These architectural elements are not just structural remnants—they are part of one of Egypt’s earliest and most innovative royal temples, located in Abusir, near modern-day Cairo. Sahure’s reign marked a significant transition in temple design, combining older traditions with emerging features that would shape Egyptian mortuary architecture for centuries. His temple complex once contained sixteen palm-shaped columns, of which the two before you are fine examples, crafted from red granite and originally forming part of a colonnaded courtyard. These columns bear the royal cartouche of Sahure, reaffirming the king’s divine identity and eternal legacy. They surrounded the temple’s open court, a space used for rituals honoring the deceased king. The court also held an altar for offerings and served as a stage for ceremonial processions. The lintel displayed here once spanned the temple’s inner doorway, inscribed with a bold epithet praising Sahure as “Horus the Victorious, Lord of Action”—a reference to his divine embodiment and military prowess. Sahure is credited with expanding Egypt’s trade networks, particularly with Punt (modern-day Somalia or Eritrea), and promoting naval expeditions, which brought exotic goods such as incense, myrrh, and tropical animals to the Egyptian court. His reign is noted for its wealth, artistry, and architectural innovation. These architectural pieces offer a glimpse into how pharaohs expressed power—not just through statues and pyramids, but also through carefully designed spaces meant to honor their divine right and maintain their presence in the world of the living and the dead.