Sun Temple of Niuserre (Abu Ghorab)

Sun Temple of Niuserre (Abu Ghorab)
Olaf Tausch · CC BY 3.0

The Sun Temple of Niuserre at Abu Ghorab was built by the sixth ruler of the Fifth Dynasty in honor of the sun god Ra, named Shesepu-ib-re ("Delight of Ra"). The complex follows a tripartite layout with a valley temple, causeway, and upper temple enclosure measuring 110 x 70 m. Its centerpiece was a massive non-monolithic obelisk of stacked limestone blocks on a granite plinth, approximately 36 m tall -- the only such example from ancient Egypt. The courtyard features a five-block limestone altar and a Chamber of Seasons with painted reliefs. Excavated by Ludwig Borchardt between 1898 and 1901.

TypeTemple complex
Period3000 - 1500 BC
CountryEgypt
Coordinates29.9043° N, 31.1947° E

Related resources

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Sun Temple of Userkaf · Pyramid of Sahure · Pyramid of Neferirkare · Pyramid of Neferefre · Pyramid of Khentkaus II · Lepsius No.25 Pyramid · Abusir · Serapeum of Saqqara · Pyramid of Djoser · Pyramid of Userkaf · Pyramid of Neferhetepes · Pyramid of Unas · Pyramid of Sekhemkhet- Buried Pyramid · Saqqara Necropolis · The Layer Pyramid · Pyramid of Djedkare-Isesi · Pyramid of Pepi II · Valley Temple of Khafre · Great Sphinx of Giza · Tomb of Queen Khentkawes I · Osiris Shaft · Giza Eastern Cemetery · Pyramid G1-c · Pyramid G1-b

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