Sekhemkhet

Manetho has little to say about Sekhemkhet ("powerful in body"). A relief in the Wadi Maghara shows that the king engaged in military activity in Sinai, but other than that little is known. His unfinished step pyramid was discovered at Saqqara, very close to Djoser's huge edifice. Although unfinished, the construction techniques in the pyramid and underground structures echo those used in Djoser's pyramid complex. The burial chamber, located dead centre under the pyramid, was also unfinished.

Sekhemkhet reigned for only six years, so his tomb is small. However, it had not been raided in antiquity, so archeologists were delighted to discover a translucent alabaster sarcophagus with the original gypsum seal intact. The sarcophagus was empty! A number of gold bracelets and armlets, and a beautiful golden box were discovered within the remains of a wooden box in a small chamber outside the burial chamber, along with clay jar sealings bearing Sekhemkhet's name.