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Questions about Pyramid Texts

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When were the Pyramid Texts first discovered by archaeologists?

French archaeologist Gaston Maspero discovered the Pyramid Texts during excavations in 1880 at a site in South Saqqara. He found hieroglyphic text covering the walls of subterranean rooms within the pyramid of Pepi I.

Who was the first pharaoh to have the Pyramid Texts inscribed in his tomb?

The Pyramid Texts first appeared in the pyramid of Unas, who was the last pharaoh of the Fifth Dynasty. A total of 283 spells appear on the subterranean walls of Unas' pyramid situated between the pyramids of Djoser and Sekhemkhet in North Saqqara.

What is the Cannibal Hymn in the context of the Pyramid Texts?

Utterances 273 and 274 are known as the Cannibal Hymn because they describe the king hunting and eating parts of the gods to incorporate divine powers for passage into the Afterlife. This hymn appears first in the Pyramid of Unas and is also found only in the Pyramid of Teti.

Which queens had their tombs inscribed with Pyramid Texts?

Three queens from the Sixth Dynasty named Wedjebten, Neith, and Iput II had tombs containing Pyramid Texts alongside kings. Queen Neith was the wife of Pepi II and her texts were kept in much better condition than those of the kings.

When did the use of Pyramid Texts stop appearing in royal pyramids?

Pyramid Texts were not written in the pyramids of pharaohs during the Middle Kingdom which spanned from 2055 BCE to 1650 BCE. However, traditions of the pyramid spells continued to be practiced even after this period ended.