Pyramid of Khentkaus II

Pyramid of Khentkaus II
Remains of the pyramid (foreground)
Owner	Khentkaus II
Location	Egypt
Coordinates	29°53′39″N 31°12′09″E / 29.89414°N 31.2025°E / 29.89414; 31.2025Coordinates: 29°53′39″N 31°12′09″E / 29.89414°N 31.2025°E / 29.89414; 31.2025
Constructed	5th Dynasty ?
Type	True pyramid
Material	limestone with granite pyramidion
Height	17 m (original), 4 m (current)
Base	1: 25 m x 25 m
Slope	52°
Location of Pyramid of Khentkaus II
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The Pyramid of Khentkaus II is a queen's pyramid in the necropolis of Abousir in Egypt, which was built during the Fifth dynasty of Ancient Egypt. It is attributed to the queen Khentkaus II, who may have ruled Egypt as a reigning queen after the death of her husband Neferirkare. The pyramid is now a heavily damaged ruin, which only stands 4 metres high.

The area of the pyramid of Khentkaus II, directly south of the pyramid complex of Neferirkare was first explored at the beginning of the 20th century by Ludwig Borchardt, who also found remains of the complex, which he incorrectly identified as a double mastaba after carrying out some soundings.

Excited by the discovery of a papyrus fragment from the 5th dynasty, the Czech archaeologist Miroslav Verner investigated the previously unexplored area during the excavations which he undertook in Abousir with his team from 1975 to 1980. In the process he discovered that it was not a mastaba at all, but a small pyramid complex.

Through his excavations, Verner was able to clearly assign the structure to a queen named Khentkaus. It was not initially clear whether this was the same individual as Khentkaus I of the Fourth dynasty whose tomb () is at Giza. Both Khentkaus I and Khentkaus II had an unusual title which indicated that they had ruled Egypt personally. From the archaeological context, however, it was possible to date the pyramid at Abousir to he 5th dynasty and to identify the owner of the pyramid with the wife of Neferirkare: Khentkaus II.

Construction of the pyramid of Khentkaus II began in the reign of her husband Neferirkare and appears to have been originally planned as a simple queen's pyramid within the pyramid complex of Neferirkare. Inscriptions from this phase of the construction give the name of Khentkaus with the title "Royal Wife." Between the tenth and eleventh regnal year of the king there was a change in the building work, which had reached the height of the grave chamber roof by this point. The reason for the change was probably the death of the king.