Teti, 1st king of the 6th dynasty ruled Egypt for
some 32 years. The 6th dynasty is considered a period of decline and indeed
the Old Kingdom ended with the 6th dynasty after the 92 year reign of Pepi
II. Teti chose an area in Central Saqqara just south of the 1st dynasty mastabas
and northeast of Userkaf's pyramid. Teti's pyramid follows a diagonal formed
by the pyramids of Sekhemkhet, Unas, Djoser and Userkaf. There is some evidence
from the nearby mastabas that Teti may come to the throne in unusual circumstances.
The pyramid can be entered and has extremely beautiful high relief in the
subterranean chambers. It contains a basalt sarcophagus in a pented vault
with stars on the ceiling. There are three pyramids in the immediate area.
The Ba pyramid on the southeast side. The Queens pyramids of Iput mother
of Pepi I, and Khuit located just north of Teti's pyramid next to the mastaba
of Ankhmahor.
