Topography, astronomy and dynastic history in the alignments of the pyramid fields of the Old Kingdom

TL;DR

This paper explores the alignment patterns of Old Kingdom Egyptian pyramids, revealing a consistent topographical and astronomical design principle that influenced their placement and orientation, reflecting religious and historical significance.

Contribution

It introduces an interdisciplinary analysis combining historical, topographical, and archaeoastronomical data to explain the intentional alignments of pyramid complexes.

Findings

Alignments towards Heliopolis are a recurring pattern in pyramid layouts.

The pattern influenced site selection and monument orientation during the Old Kingdom.

The approach clarifies the relationship between topography, astronomy, and dynastic planning.

Abstract

It is known since the 19 century that in the layout of the pyramid field of the pharaohs of the 4 th Egyptian dynasty at Giza, a main axis exists. Indeed, the south-east corners of these monuments align towards the site of the temple of Heliopolis, which was plainly visible in ancient times. It was later discovered that a similar situation occurs in the main pyramid field of the subsequent dynasty at Abu Sir. Here, the northwest corners of three chronologically successive pyramids again voluntarily align towards Heliopolis. However, the temple was in this case not visible, due to the rock outcrop today occupied by the Cairo citadel which blocks the view. In the present paper, a interdisciplinary approach based on historical, topographical and archaeoastronomical analysis is developed in an attempt at understanding such peculiar features, which governed from the very beginning the planning of these wonderful monuments. A general pattern actually arises, which appears to have inspired the choice of the sites and the disposition on the ground of almost all the funerary complexes of the kings during the Old Kingdom. In particular, this pattern helps to explain the choices in the location of the funerary complexes of Niuserre in Abusir and of Unas in Saqqara.