Lisht - Pyramid of Sesostris

1mi/1.5km south of Pyramid of Amenemhet I is the larger Pyramid of Sesostris I, which is very similar to the Pyramid of Amenemhet I. It, too, is built over a framework of retaining walls with a filling of sand and rubble (cf. the El-Lahun Pyramid) and a layout, with a mortuary temple, a valley temple and a causeway, which continues the sixth Dynasty tradition.

The pyramid originally had a height of 200ft/61m and a base measurement of 345ft/105m, with a limestone casing which has now almost completely disappeared. It was surrounded by a double enclosure wall. Within the inner wall, which was built of Tura limestone with slabs bearing reliefs at regular intervals, lay the mortuary temple (on the east side) and, at the southeast corner, a small subsidiary pyramid with its own cult chamber and small chapel. The entrance to the main pyramid was in the middle of the north side, with a small chapel built in front of it. A narrow passage faced with red granite led down to the tomb chamber, now filled with water and inaccessible. Within the outer enclosure wall, built of Nile bricks, were the temple forecourts (on the east side) and, set around the enclosure, nine small pyramids for female members of the royal family, each with its own chapel on the east side, a chamber for offerings in front of the entrance and its own enclosure wall. The largest of these subsidiary pyramids, to the southeast, belonged to, Queen Neferu, the one immediately west of it to Princess Itakayt. No names were found on the other small pyramids.