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What structures were included in an Old Kingdom royal pyramid complex?
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Egyptian art and architecture
Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, c. 1275 bce.
In the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, the royal pyramid complex served as a funerary center for the deceased monarch, with the pyramid itself acting as the focal point. These complexes were composed of several essential structures:1
- Pyramid: The central tomb structure, which housed the burial chamber for the king.21
- Mortuary Temple: Located adjacent to the pyramid, this temple was used for the king's funerary cult. It typically featured an open, pillared court, various storerooms, five elongated shrines, and a chapel containing an offering table and a false door where priests performed daily rites for the kingās ka (spirit).34
- Valley Temple: Situated at the edge of the desert escarpment near the Nile floodplain, this structure was linked to the mortuary temple by a sloping causeway. It likely served as a reception point for the royal body and may have been used for purification or embalming rituals.14
- Causeway: A covered corridor that connected the valley temple to the mortuary temple.14
- Subsidiary Pyramids: Smaller structures often built within the complex for the burials of royal family members.5