South Saqqara Stone
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| South Saqqara Stone | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Material | Basalt |
| Size | length: 2.43 m width: 920 cm |
| Created | c. 2250 BC |
| Discovered | 1932 or 1933 Giza, Egypt |
| Discovered by | Gustave Jequier |
The South Saqqara Stone is the lid of the sarcophagus of the ancient Egyptian queen Ankhesenpepi III, which was inscribed with a list for the reigns of the pharaohs of the 6th Dynasty from Teti, Userkare, Pepi I, Merenre to the early years of Pepi II under whom the document was likely created. It is essentially an annal document which records events in each year of a king's reign. An estimated 92% of the original text was lost when the stone was roughly polished to be reused as a sarcophagus lid, possibly in the late first intermediate to early Middle Kingdom period (c. 2050 – 1650 BC).
The South Saqqara Stone was discovered in 1932 or 1933 by Gustave Jéquier in the westernmost of five storerooms south of the pyramid of Queen Iput II, within the pyramid complex of Pepi II (during whose reign it was created) at Saqqara.
Description
Made of basalt, it measures 2.43 metres by 0.92 metres and is 20 centimetres thick. It is inscribed on both sides, but much of the inscription is erased and unreadable. The recto appears to list events of the reigns of Teti, Userkare, Pepi I and Merenre, the verso describes the second part of the reign of Merenra and part of Pepi II's.