Edfu South pyramid
Edfu South pyramid is one of seven small step pyramids built far from Egypt’s main centers. It sits about five kilometres south of Edfu, near Naga el-Ghoneimeya, and is associated with other remote pyramids at Elephantine, el-Kula, Naqada, Zawyet el-Maiyitin, Sinki, and Seila.
The pyramid was first identified as such in 1979 by German archaeologists Günter Dreyer and Werner Kaiser during a survey of the area. Since 2010, the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago has carried out further investigations nearby.
Originally, the pyramid measured about 18.3–18.8 metres on each side and stood roughly 10.5–12.5 metres high; today it is about 4.9 metres tall. Its core was about 8.3 metres square, surrounded by two outer stone courses about four cubits thick. It likely had three steps, with a slope probably between 10° and 14°. The monument is oriented almost north, but slightly off true north to align with the Nile.
It was built from local grey-blue and red sandstone. The blocks were roughly cut, averaging about 30 cm thick, with some as large as 60–80 cm. The mortar was a clay–sand mix. The builder and purpose are unknown. Dreyer and Kaiser suggested it was part of a single project attributed to Pharaoh Huni of the Third Dynasty; Andrzej Ćwiek favors Sneferu, founder of the Fourth Dynasty. Possible functions include a royal representation, a symbol of political/religious unity, or a cenotaph for a royal wife.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 20:33 (CET).