Unas
was the last king of the 5th
dynasty. His pyramid lies to the south of Djoser's
complex.
Though look less imposing than earlier pyramids
of Giza and that of Djoser, the pyramid had another significance:
It is for the first time to see inscriptions of the Pyramid
Texts
and other decorations. This is because walls of earlier tombs
were not adorned.
The burial chambers are worth the visit. The pyramid itself
lost its limestone casing and so it looks like a mound of rubble
rather than a true pyramid. Its original height was about 19
meters (62 ft). The entrance to inside the pyramid is from the
northern side.
The causway of the pyramid:
The recently restored causeway of the Unas pyramid stretches
eastward to a length of about one-kilometer (0.6 miles). It
has a limestone floor and it used to be completely enclosed.
The roof had once a crevice cut to admit the sunlight in the
causeway for illumination. Traces of the original construction
can be seen as you go further east. This part is particularly
interesting as it bears reliefs that represent the daily life.
Other nearby monuments:
Going along the causeway to the south you will see the boat
pits that once housed the Solar Boats
like those of the Great Pyramids at Giza. However, some archeologists
believe their role were merely symbolic.
Source: Lehner, Complete Pyramids,
p. 155
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