Pyramid of Unas

The Pyramid of Unas is located in the Saqqara area. The Pyramid of Unas was constructed in the 24th century BC for Pharaoh Unas, the final monarch of the Fifth Dynasty. Although the Pyramid of Unas was originally 43 meters (141 feet) tall, it is now mostly damaged.

The fact that the Pyramid of Unas was the first of its kind to contain what is now known as Pyramid Texts is one of the reasons for its significance. Magical inscriptions that were intended to guard the pharaoh against harm in the afterlife were etched directly into the walls. Following Unas, several more pharaohs followed suit, establishing a widespread pattern among Egyptian kings. In fact, it's thought that the Book of the Dead and the later Coffin Texts drew inspiration from the Pyramid Texts.

The Pyramid of Unas, built of limestone, was unearthed in the 19th century by Western explorers, who uncovered a mummy in the tomb. Historians aren't certain that the remains belonged to Unas because they could have belonged to a later noble.

Location: between the complexes of Sekhemket and Djoser, in North Saqqara