Quick facts
Key numbers
- Original height: ~43 m
- Base length: ~57.75 m per side
- Slope: ~56°
- Status today: ruined superstructure; intact underground chambers
Commonly cited architectural figures in Egyptological references. [5]
Why it matters
- Earliest known Pyramid Texts carved on the chamber walls. [1][3][4]
- A long, decorated causeway linked valley temple to the pyramid complex. [1]
- Located between the complexes of Sekhemkhet and Djoser—prime Saqqara real estate. [5]
What’s in the complex?
- Valley temple near the modern Saqqara entrance
- Causeway (partly preserved) that once held rich reliefs
- Mortuary temple by the pyramid’s east side
- Cult pyramid + enclosure walls around the sacred core
The official monument description highlights the two temples + causeway layout. [1]
Names you’ll see
Unas is the common modern spelling. You may also see Wenis in older books and museum labels. He is widely described as the last king of Dynasty 5 and the first to inscribe his pyramid with Pyramid Texts. [3]
A signature experience
Visiting Unas is often about going underground: narrow corridors lead to chambers where hieroglyphic spells cover the walls, turning the pyramid into a “book in stone” meant to guide the king into the afterlife. [1][4]
Jump to details
What you’re looking at
The Pyramid of Unas sits in North Saqqara, on the great necropolis of ancient Memphis. The superstructure is heavily ruined today, but the complex still preserves the classic Old Kingdom components: valley temple → causeway → mortuary temple → pyramid. [1]
In plain terms: Unas’s pyramid is “small” in skyline impact, but “huge” in what it represents—because the carved spells inside became a template for later royal funerary inscriptions. [3][4]
Where is it inside Saqqara? A major reference point is the Step Pyramid enclosure of Djoser. Unas’s complex lies in the same northern zone of Saqqara and is described as positioned between nearby royal complexes. [5]
The Pyramid Texts: a turning point
The inscriptions in Unas’s pyramid are widely recognized as the earliest known Pyramid Texts— spells, hymns, and ritual formulas carved on the walls of inner chambers to protect the king and help him reach the afterlife. [1][6][7]
- Purpose: protection, transformation, and safe passage for the deceased king. [7]
- Location: carved on the chamber walls deep inside the pyramid. [1]
- Legacy: later 5th–6th Dynasty pyramids adopt and expand the tradition. [7]
If you enjoy “reading” ancient Egypt, Unas is one of the best sites to feel how writing, ritual, and architecture merge into a single religious machine.
Interior layout (easy mental map)
Most visitors experience Unas from the inside out: you descend through a corridor to an antechamber and then to the burial chamber. The exact route and access can vary depending on site conditions, but the logic is consistent with Old Kingdom design: controlled descent → protected passages → sacred core. [5]
Simple diagram
Conceptual map for visitors; scholarly reconstructions provide measurements and details. [5]
What to look for inside
- Dense hieroglyphic columns (Pyramid Texts). [1][7]
- Architecture built for controlled movement: narrow, linear corridors and guarded transitions. [5]
- In some references, a star-painted ceiling motif is associated with Old Kingdom royal burial spaces. [5]
The long causeway & its reliefs
Unas’s complex is famous for its long causeway. The official description notes it was elaborately decorated, although much of it was later removed and reused; some sections remain and still give a sense of its original grandeur. [1]
The causeway relief tradition matters because it expands what royal monuments show: not just divine kingship, but also scenes of craft, transport, environment, and lived reality—offering historians rare “windows” into the Old Kingdom world. [5]
Tip: If you visit the Imhotep Museum at Saqqara, ask about blocks and relief fragments associated with Saqqara monuments. Even when the original reliefs are fragmentary on-site, museums help you reconstruct the story.
Saqqara in the bigger picture
Saqqara is part of the vast necropolis of ancient Memphis and belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage property “Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields.” [2]
This matters because Unas is not a standalone “spot.” It sits inside a landscape that records how Egyptian royal burial architecture evolved from mastabas to step pyramids to smooth-sided pyramids—and how the necropolis kept being reused across millennia. [2]
Nearby highlights to pair with Unas
- Step Pyramid of Djoser (the landmark of Saqqara)
- Serapeum of Saqqara (Apis bull catacombs)
- Old Kingdom mastaba tombs (Mereruka, Kagemni, Ti)
- Other 5th–6th Dynasty pyramids nearby (Teti, Pepi I, etc.)
A quick mindset for Saqqara
Think of Saqqara like a layered “city of the dead.” Different kings, officials, and later visitors kept returning here. So your route is not just sightseeing—it’s moving through time.
Visiting the Pyramid of Unas
Opening hours (official listing)
The Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities listing for the Pyramid of Unas shows 08:00 AM – 05:00 PM (daily). [1] Times and access rules can change—use the official listing as your first checkpoint before you go.
Practical tips
- Footing: Wear closed shoes—Saqqara paths are dusty and uneven.
- Inside the pyramid: corridors can feel tight; take it slow and let others pass.
- Best pairing: Unas + Djoser + a mastaba tomb makes a perfect Old Kingdom day.
- Hydration: even in cooler months, bring water and sun protection.
Travel note: Saqqara is southwest of central Cairo. Many visitors come by car or organized tour (often combined with Dahshur and Memphis/Mit Rahina). Plan extra time for stops, tickets, and walking between monuments.
FAQ
Sources & further reading
- Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (Egypt), Discover Egypt’s Monuments — “Pyramid of Unas” (overview + opening hours). Official page.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields. World Heritage listing.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — “Unas (Wenis)” (biographical overview; first to inscribe pyramid with Pyramid Texts). Article.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art — The Art of Ancient Egypt: A Resource for Educators (notes on Saqqara pyramids and Pyramid Texts beginning with Unas). PDF.
- Mark Lehner, The Complete Pyramids (Thames & Hudson) — widely used reference for pyramid architecture, plans, and measurements.
- James P. Allen (trans.), The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts (Society of Biblical Literature) — key modern translation of the Pyramid Text corpus.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — “Pyramid Texts” (definition and historical context; earliest known in Unas). Article.
Note: Some architectural numbers and layout details vary slightly across publications due to reconstruction choices and measurement conventions. This page prioritizes official and major reference works.