Life of a Pyramid

This cultural biography of a major ancient Egyptian monument maps the inception, life, and afterlife of the pyramid complex of King Senwosret III at Dahshur in Egypt, spanning five millennia from the beginnings of the ancient Egyptian state to modern times. The study transcends traditional chronological narratives, not only focussing on the primary stages of planning, building, and use of the funerary monument, but also including its later stages, its abandonment, dismantlement, and reuse. The pyramid continues to serve as a resource for social, cultural, and material capital, revealing centuries of interaction tied to identity, memory, and power dynamics.

This study draws on a broad range of sources, from the archaeological record and ancient administrative texts, literary works, and graffiti left by early 'tourists' visiting the site to travellers' accounts from Medieval times and the Early Modern period, as well as contemporary observations on the heritage site. It combines Egyptology and landscape archaeology with research history, reception history, and cultural memory studies.

The cultural biography of the pyramid of Senwosret III highlights the changing relationship of an ancient culture with its monuments, prefiguring later changes in the reception and use of the sites that ultimately became archaeological heritage and tourist attractions. Dahshur's palimpsest landscape offers insights into socio-political events through time as well as individual histories, positioning the pyramid of Senwosret III as a microcosm of Egypt's enduring cultural dialogue with its monumental past.