In the heart of the Saqqara necropolis, in the shadow of the more majestic Step Pyramid of Djoser, stands a modest, almost completely ruined pyramid. Its appearance, however, is deceptive. This is the pyramid of Pharaoh Unas – one of the jewels of Ancient Egypt. Its significance for Egyptology and world culture is incommensurate with its size, for inside one can see the world of the oldest religious literature in the world, carved in stone.
Pharaoh Unas: The Last Ruler of a Great Era
Unas (Wenis) – the fifth and last pharaoh of the 5th Dynasty (approximately 2375–2345 BC). His name means "The One Who Exists" or "The Living." Little is known about his reign, which lasted about 30 years: evidence remains of trade expeditions to Nubia and Sinai, as well as stability in the country.
But he entered history not as a great conqueror or builder of giant monuments, but as a spiritual innovator. He became the last pharaoh of the Old Kingdom to be buried in Saqqara, after which the capital and royal necropolis temporarily shifted to Abusir. His death marked the beginning of a period of weakening central authority, leading to the First Intermediate Period.
Construction and Architecture: Modest Exterior, Grand Interior World
The Pyramid of Unas is located in the southwestern corner of the Djoser complex enclosure. Its construction marked a departure from the gigantomania of his predecessors.
Original dimensions: The base of the pyramid measured about 67 meters on each side, and its original height was approximately 48 meters. The angle of inclination was classic – about 56 degrees.
Construction: It was built according to the canonical scheme for the late Old Kingdom: a core of small, roughly hewn stones laid in steps, and an outer casing of fine white Tura limestone slabs, which is now almost completely lost. It is precisely due to the loss of this casing that the pyramid today looks like a pile of rubble no more than 10-15 meters high.
Current State and Uniqueness of the Visit
Today, the Pyramid of Unas appears to visitors as a huge stone mound. However, it is here in Saqqara that a tourist is given the rarest opportunity not just to look at an ancient monument from afar, but to literally immerse themselves in it.
Descent to the Burial Chamber: The entrance, located on the northern side at the base, leads into a long, very narrow, and steeply descending corridor. This 20-meter descent at an angle, in complete or partial darkness (lighting may be minimal), is in itself a powerful psychological transition from the world of the living to the afterlife.
Underground Palace of Texts: The corridor leads first to small side chambers (presumably storerooms), and then to the heart of the complex: the pharaoh`s burial chamber. It is here that the encounter with a miracle happens.
Basalt Sarcophagus: In the western part of the burial chamber, right on the floor, stands a massive but severely damaged sarcophagus of dark gray basalt. This is all that remains of the pharaoh`s material shell.
The Main Treasure – The "Pyramid Texts": The gaze immediately shifts from the sarcophagus to the walls and ceiling. The entire surface of the walls, including the ceiling, is covered with elegant columns of hieroglyphs, carved into the stone and filled with blue paste. This is not a chronicle in the usual sense (not a record of the reign`s events), but the oldest collection of religious-magical texts in the world – the "Pyramid Texts." They were first discovered here, in the Pyramid of Unas, in 1881 by the French Egyptologist Gaston Maspero.
"Pyramid Texts": A Guide for the Pharaoh in Eternity
There is not a single drawing on these walls – only words, which, according to Egyptian beliefs, possessed the power of creation. This is a collection of about 800 magical formulas, spells, hymns, and ritual instructions. Their purpose is to ensure for the deceased pharaoh:
• Safe passage through the dangers of the afterlife (Duat).
• Magical transformation into a divine being (akh) and reunification with the gods, especially Osiris and Ra.
• Receipt of food and offerings in eternity.
• Ascension to the heavens via a ladder or with the help of the solar barque.
The texts are written in the first person – these are the words of the pharaoh himself or the gods speaking for him. The Egyptians themselves called these inscriptions "Words of Utterance" (Medju-netjer), emphasizing their sacred sonic nature. The ceiling of the burial chamber is studded with golden five-pointed stars on a dark blue background, symbolizing the night sky to which the pharaoh was to ascend.
Visiting the Pyramid of Unas is a journey not into the realm of stone and scale, but into the realm of spirit and word. It is an opportunity to touch the origins of human thought about immortality, standing in a tiny, head-to-toe inscribed room underground, where over 4,300 years ago faith in the victory of spirit over death was first recorded.
