Pyramid of Userkaf, Saqqara - 5th Dynasty, Cairo

The Userkaf pyramid complex was constructed for Pharaoh Userkaf, who ruled Egypt from 2494 to 2487 BC and founded the 5th Dynasty. Situated in the pyramid area at Saqqara, to the northeast of Djoser's step pyramid (which dates back to around 2670 BC), this pyramid was built using dressed stone with a rubble core. Today, it stands in a ruined state, resembling a conical hill amid the Saqqara sands. Consequently, it's locally known as El-Haram el-Maharbish, meaning the "Heap of Stone." Western archaeologists identified it as a royal pyramid in the 19th century.

Userkaf's pyramid complex is part of a more extensive funerary site, including a mortuary temple, an offering chapel, and a cult pyramid. Additionally, there are separate structures for Userkaf's wife, Queen Neferhetepes, including her pyramid and mortuary temple. Sadly, Userkaf's mortuary temple and cult pyramid have been entirely destroyed and are challenging to distinguish. The queen's pyramid now exists as little more than a mound of rubble, with its burial chamber exposed due to ancient stone theft.

This complex stands out significantly from those built during the 4th Dynasty (around 2613–2494 BC) in terms of its size, architectural style, and location, as it's found in Saqqara rather than on the Giza Plateau. Userkaf's pyramid complex might represent the profound shifts in royal ideology that occurred between the 4th and 5th dynasties. These changes may have started during the reign of Userkaf's likely predecessor, Shepseskaf. Remarkably, over 1,200 years after its initial construction, Ramses II oversaw the restoration of the pyramid complex. During the much later Saite period (664–525 BC), it served as a burial ground.