The Emptiness of Pyramid Sarcophagi

The pyramids of Old Kingdom Egypt are renowned for their size and magnificence, and yet the sarcophagi within them are rarely the finest specimens.

Why are so many of these stone boxes uninscribed, lacking embellishment, and even roughly finished?

This video traces the history of sarcophagi in pyramids from the earliest examples at Saqqara through the 4th, 5th and 6th dynasties to look for patterns and clues. The mastaba field at Giza will be compared with how the finest granite coffers looked among the royal court.

Finally, the unique and sealed empty sarcophagus of Sekhmekhet will give a context that no plundered pyramid can provide.

--------------------

--------------------

Thanks to the Laboratory of Alternative History for imagery of Sekhemkhet and the Djoser South Tomb

Thanks to UnchartedX for the imagery of alabaster sarcophagi at the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser

Thanks to @AncientArchitects for an audio clip on Djoser’s pyramid complex

Thanks to Keith Hamilton for his illustration of Djoser’s South Tomb

Thanks to the Harvard Digital Giza Archive:

Graphics Sources:

Zaharia Goneim “Horus Sekhem-khet” The Unfinished Stepped Pyramid at Saqqara Vol. 1, Cairo, 1957

Zakaria Goneim “The Lost Pyramid” Rinehard & Company, USA, 1956

Hermann Junker “Giza Vol 1-11” Hölder-Pichler-Tempsky A.-G., Vienna, 1929-1953

Audran Labrousee “L’architecture des pyramides a textes” Vol 1 & 2, IFAO, Cairo, 2000

John Shae Perring “The Pyramids of Gizeh: Part II. The Great Pyramid” London, 1840

John Shae Perring “Pyramids to the Southward of Gizeh: Part III” London, 1842

William Kelly Simpson “The Mastabas of Kawab, Khafkhufu I and II” Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Boston, 1978

Charles Piazzi Smyth “Life and Work at the Great Pyramid Vol II” Edmonston and Douglas, 1867

Miroslav Verner “The Pyramids (New and Revised) AUC Press Cairo 2020

W.M. Flinders Petrie “Meydum” 1892

W.M. Flinders Petrie & Gerald Wainright, “Meydum and Memphis III”, 1910

Quotations Sources:

Zahi Hawass “The Pyramids of the Old Kingdom” Ahram Online, June 25, 2024

John Shae Perring “Pyramids to the Southward of Gizeh: Part III” London, 1842

Zaharia Goneim “The Lost Pyramid” Rinehard & Company, USA, 1956

00:00 Introduction
1:54 Djoser’s Pyramid Box
2:49 Djoser’s South Tomb
4:54 First Pyramid Sarcophagi
6:13 Sekhemkhet’s Sarcophagus
9:00 Mastaba 17
10:04 Great Pyramid
11:50 Khufu’s Son Kawab
14:04 Sarcophagus Security
16:51 Pyramid Quality Control
18:03 Sealed Sarcophagus
19:26 Sealed Passage
21:53 Planning Ahead

[Rjjgt]

Nothing excites me more than when I see a new video from you on my feed. God bless you and your work

[matthewmiller]

Your ability to see what is in plain sight and yet invisible to most is remarkable.

Instead of rushing out content, you take your time to "stare through a stone wall" and see what others rush past. Fascinating stuff.

[jpx]

It's interesting what people remember. As a child I vividly recall disappointment with the lack of any evidence of Khufu's sarcophagus lid while other random stone was still in the room.... and with the incongruous areas of polish and drill marks and other rough spots seemingly randomly spaced across the interior finish. Given the immensity of effort building the pyramid and the perfected finish of the walls of the King's Chamber, the lack of care with the interior of the massive sarcophagus seemingly placed in the pyramid during construction seemed wrong. And, of course, there was the "wrongness" with the corner chipped away with guides selling souvenir fragments, which was still done when I first saw the pyramid.

[shademe]

I always look fwd to your videos. It is so refreshing to see you use other YouTubers clips and be respectful and thank them. This division among the community is counter productive and helps no 1. Thank you for your time and effort in making another interesting watch!

[phoneguy]

I just love this channel. together with "ancient architects" I learn really interesting and valuable stuff from the past. thanks for that!

[theemissary]

Always a good day when History for GRANITE uploads a new video

[USS-SNAKE-ISLAND]

Finally something new! Hurrah! Best Egyptology channel on the net.

[ianwilbanks]

That is an interesting situation. I always thought that the plain looking coffers were because they were probably covered in something expensive that was looted. Like, no reason to make the stone fancy if you're covering it in gold with fancy designs.

[JonnoPlays]

Last time I was this early the sarcophagus wasn't empty.

[TharkysOlafson]

Dude! I thought you were dead!
I love the level of research you put into these videos.Thank you so much!

[ldugois]

Your theory is indeed consistent with your previous video: the portcullis being used to open and close the access multiple times (vs. permanent block against robbers). Enjoyed the video! Thanks again!

[ltzhk]

Thanks for your great work and research! I also love that you don't rush for quick conclusions.

[tyman]

My Thursday just got so much better!!!! ❤❤

[darkwood]

Corpse cops cover the Khufu coffer cover caper.

[evbbjones]

Everyone always talks about the Giza pyramids, my favorite by far is Djosers. Near wholly intact inside and out, massive court yard complex with ancient beautiful walls surrounding it and a mini contemporary Egyptian royal setting. MILES of shafts and tunnels running through it and underneath it. Actual artwork on walls, right down to the lapis lazuli insets. You can even see the original WOODEN beams in some places! And such a clear demonstration of the evolution of pyramid building technique. And lets also not forget its the burial place of almost all of those fancy stone vases people like to point at as being examples of high ancient technology.

Djosers complex would be a high priority on my list of visits if I ever found myself in Egypt. Bent Pyramid is pretty damn cool, too.

[BillericaBunnies]

So we already have the idea floated that the pyramids were open to visitors, how realistic is it that the pyramid would be a temporary storage place for the body - dead king spends X months/years in there being worshipped and wished away to the afterlife, and once that time had passed they get relocated to a special more secret, or somehow spiritial (burned and scattered, etc..) location. The pyramid sarcophagi could even have been multi use. Yes, we know they were built for specific kings, and of course everyone would refer to them as "Bob's pyramid" but that does not exclude subsequent use by others. Remember, these things are mysteries because the "obvious" interpretations don't make sense: we need to think outside the box.

[marcingoscicki]

Have you considered the possibility that Sekhemkhet was just trolling?
He pulled an epic prank on all potential looters (and Goneim) by NOT being laid to rest in his sarcophagus!
Then, his loyal followers (who were in on the joke) sealed the passage in multiple stages to further troll scholars like you. Genius.

[pntbllpro]

This is my first new video since I found your channel and subsequently watched all of your videos in just a few days.

[doggodoggo]

1:53 the way that lid is propped up makes me anxious

[VibeMusicAI]

Love your videos. Just rewatched a few the other day cause I was having withdrawals 😜. Stoked to see a new one!