Tomb of Queen Khentkawes I

Visited the site on October 8 Purchased the Cairo Pass for 90 Euro. This area was cordoned off so could not get close. If one does want to get closer the "staff" are very willing to accept money and then demand more so I would advise not adding to the corruption that us ubiquitous at historical sites all across Egypt. The rubbish that is built up in this area on the site is horrendous. Even their own staff uses it as a dumping ground.

🔝Khentkaus was very likely a daughter of king Neferirkare Kakai and queen Khentkaus II, while her husband was equally likely pharaoh Neferefre, and her son the future pharaoh Menkauhor Kaiu. 🔝Discovery of the tombEdit: On January 4, 2015, the discovery of her tomb by Czech archaeologists was announced by Egyptian authorities. According to Egyptian Antiquities Minister Mamdouh Eldamaty, there had been no knowledge of the existence of Khentkaus III before this discovery. Two earlier Egyptian queens with the same name have been identified previously, however. The tomb of Khentkaus III – marked as AC 30– was excavated in Abusir, where there are several pyramids dedicated to pharaohs of the Fifth Dynasty, including Neferefre.The tomb was found near Neferefre's funerary complex by a Czech archaeological team led by Miroslav Bárta of Charles University in Prague, with Egyptian collaboration. The name and rank of Khentkaus was inscribed on the inner walls of the tomb, probably by the builders.Her burial place is a mastaba with an underground burial chamber that is reached via a shaft.The reliefs in the tomb identified her both as "the wife of the king" and "the mother of the king", implying her son ascended the throne.Statuettes and twenty-four travertine utensils, along with four copper utensils (which were part of the funerary objects), also have been found in the tomb. The tomb is dated to the middle of the Fifth Dynasty. The archaeologists who uncovered the tomb believed it to be that of Neferefre's wife, because it was close to his complex, in a small cemetery southeast of the complex.Eldamaty stated: "This discovery will help us shed light on certain unknown aspects of the Fifth Dynasty, which along with the Fourth Dynasty, witnessed the construction of the first pyramids."

The architecture of Tomb of Queen Khentkawes is as old as sphinx! The other sphinx head facing west is here!

The pyramid of Khentkaus I or step tomb of Khentkaus I is a Fourth Dynasty two-stepped tomb built for the Queen Mother Khentkaus I in Giza. The tomb, built in two phases coinciding with its two steps, was originally known as the fourth pyramid of Giza. In the first phase, a nearly square block of bedrock, around which the stone had been quarried for the Giza pyramids, was utilised to construct her tomb and encased with fine white Tura limestone. In the second phase, most likely in the Fifth Dynasty, her tomb was enlarged with a large limestone structure built on top of the bedrock block. The Egyptologist Miroslav Verner suggests that this may have been intended to convert her tomb into a pyramid, but was abandoned as a result of stability concerns. South-west of the tomb was a long boat pit, which housed the Night boat of Re. A companion day boat has not been found. A chapel was built into the tomb superstructure, with a large granite entrance bearing the queen's name and titles. One of her titles was of particular interest because it had not been known of prior to its discovery at her tomb.

The tomb bears the name "Khentkaus III", a queen that was not known to archaeologists before. It was discovered during excavations carried out by a Czech mission, in cooperation with the Ministry of Antiquities in the archaeological area of ​​"Abu Sir", west of Cairo. Also found were 24 vessels made of limestone, and 4 copper tools, which represent part of the funerary furniture for the owner of the tomb. Inscriptions were also discovered on the side walls of the burial chamber, bearing between its lines the name and titles of the owner of the tomb, including "the king's wife", and "" The king's mother."

Khentkaus I, also referred to as Khentkawes, was a queen of ancient Egypt during the 4th dynasty. She may have been a daughter of pharaoh Menkaure, wife of both kings Shepseskaf and Userkaf and mother of Sahure. Her tomb is located very close to Menkaure's pyramid complex. This close connection may point to a family relationship, but it is not quite clear exactly what that relationship is.

Awesome Historical place

Khentkawes I was a real one, and her pyramid shows as much. She was regent for a bit.