Editing Djedkare Isesi (section)

==Pyramid==
{{Main|Pyramid of Djedkare Isesi}}
[[File:Djedkare-Isesi-05.jpg|thumb|right|The pyramid of Djedkare in [[Saqqara]], 2011]]

Djedkare built his pyramid in South Saqqara. It was called ''Nefer Isesi'' or ''Nefer Djedkare'' in Ancient Egyptian,{{efn|group=note|Transliterations ''nfr-Jzzj'' and ''nfr-Ḏd-k3-Rˁ''.{{sfn|Porter|Moss|Burney|Malek|1981|p=424}}}}{{sfn|Porter|Moss|Burney|Malek|1981|p=424}} variously translated as "Isesi/Djedkare is beautiful"{{sfn|Grimal|1992|p=118}} or "Isesi/Djedkare is perfect".{{sfn|Altenmüller|2001|p=600}}{{sfn|Strudwick|2005|p=xxx}} It is known today as ''Haram el-Shawwâf'' ({{langx|ar|هَـرَم ٱلـشَّـوَّاف|Haram ash-Shawwāf|lit=The Sentinel Pyramid}}),{{sfn|Porter|Moss|Burney|Malek|1981|p=424}} because it stands on the edge of the Nile valley.{{sfn|Leclant|1999|p=865}}{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=153}}

The pyramid originally comprised six or seven steps made of irregular and roughly hewn limestone blocks and mortar, of which only three survive. This core was overlaid by casing stones of white [[Tura, Egypt|Tura]] limestone, which were stolen in antiquity. At the time of its construction the pyramid stood {{convert|52|m|ft|abbr=on}} high, with a base length of {{convert|78.75|m|ft|abbr=on}} and an inclination angle of 52°.{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=153}}

In the interior of the pyramid a descending passage led, behind three granite [[portcullis]]es, to an antechamber, three magazine rooms and the burial chamber. In the burial chamber, pieces of alabaster and a faience bead on a gold thread were discovered, as well as many fragments of what was originally a large [[sarcophagus]] of dark grey basalt.{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=153}} The sarcophagus was sunk into the floor of the burial chamber and there was a niche for the [[canopic chest]] of the king to its north-east. An almost complete mummy was discovered in the remnants of the sarcophagus. An examination by Ahmed Batrawi of these skeletal remains, excavated in the mid-1940s under the direction of Abdel-Salam Hussein, suggests that Djedkare died at the age of 50 to 60 years.{{sfn|Verner|2001a|p=410}}{{sfn|Batrawi|1947|p=98}}

To the east of the pyramid, Djedkare's mortuary temple was laid out.{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=154}} Its eastern façade was flanked by two massive stone structures, which resemble the later [[Pylon (architecture)|pylon]]s. The mortuary temple is connected via a yet unexcavated causeway to a valley temple.{{sfn|Lehner|2008|p=154}}