Introduction

Egypt has been known as a country pyramids. Generally, Pyramids refer to the huge triangle monuments specifically associated with funerary practices of ancient people. But, some experts describe their astronomical values as well. In Latin America also, pyramids can be seen. In Egypt, pyramids are numerous in number.

Pharaoh Djedefre

Djedefre was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh. He belonged to the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom Period. He is famous. Because he was the son and successor of Khufu who is believed to direct the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. In the Hellenized version, his name is Rhatoises.

The Location of the Pyramid

The exact location of the Pyramid of Djedefre is the region of Abu
Rawash in Egypt, eight kilometers north of Giza. This pyramid is famous for its important characteristic. This is its attribution to the northernmost pyramid in Egypt.

An Unfinished Pyramid

Well, there are a number of pyramids in Egypt that are incomplete. Why this happened may need deeper inquiries. The Pyramid of Djedefre is one of them. Djedefre was an ambitious pharaoh. It might have happened because of the construction of big pyramids by his predecessors. But, somehow, he could not complete the construction. Some of the parts of the pyramids are totally ruined now. But there are some scholars who believe that it was a complete pyramid and destroyed over time.

Unique Architecture

The architecture of the pyramid of Djedefre is quite unique. Because it is built over a natural mound. There is another interesting aspect to be noted. It is the location of the burial chamber. Generally, pyramids have their burial chambers inside them. But, here the case is different. The location of the burial chamber here is under the beneath of the pyramid.

A Lost Glory

Many believed that the pyramid of Djedefre was one of the most beautiful pyramids built in ancient Egypt. Its original name was ‘Djedefre’s Starry Sky’. Its main raw materials are granite and limestone. It had a beautifully polished exterior. And it also had a beautiful and huge pyramidion as its crown. It was the year of 2008. The History Channel aired a documentary on this pyramid – ‘The Lost Pyramid’.

But the time was not always in favor of this pyramid. Gradually, the original dynasties of Egypt lost its political authority. Then the Romans came into the picture. They started to rule the Egyptian territory. During the course of time, they used the stones of this pyramid and some of the others also to construct their own buildings. Well, it was definitely a kind of vandalism in ancient times. Thus, many think that this is how the glory of the pyramid of Djedefee is lost.

The Recent Work

There is a debate regarding the status of the pyramid whether it was finished totally or not. Well, recent works can shed some light on this issue. Dr. Michael Baud is associated with the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. He has conducted some excavations in the region of Abu Rawash. He has argued that the evidence from the excavations show that the pyramid was never at all completed.

The claim of Solar Temple

In the fraternity of Egyptologists, there is a strong claim that this structure was actually a sun temple or a place for worshipping sun only. Vassil Dobrev is from the French Institute of Archaeology in Cairo. According to him, it was not a pyramid, but a temple. But, Dr, Baud argued that there are no remains of a temple-like structure at Abu Rawash.

Well, there is a clue. ‘Ra’ is a word used to denote the Sun God in ancient Egypt. Djedefre was the first pharaoh to use the name of Ra with his name. Thus, there might have been a strong connection of him to the Cult of the Sun God. Further research can elaborate more on this topic.