Archaeologists Perhaps Closing in on Lost Satellite Pyramids of Queen Ankhnespepy II

From Newsweek

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDION FOUND NEXT TO LARGEST OBELISK HINTS AT EXISTENCE OF QUEEN’S LOST CHAMBER

BY DANA DOVEY ON 10/13/17 AT 12:23 PM

The discovery of a 4,000-year-old pyramidion found near the excavation of the largest Old Kingdom obelisk fragment may be the first evidence of the existence of satellite pyramids for Queen Ankhnespepy II, the most important Egyptian queen of the sixth dynasty.

Juan R. Lazaro - Photo by Juan R. Lazaro source
Profile of Ankhnespepy II, wife of Pepy I mother of Merenre Pepy II,
from Saqqara, Pyramid complex of Queen Ankhnespepy II, Funerary
Temple. Saqqara. Imhotep Museum.

The pyramidion itself is a striking archaeological find, but its location is even more intriguing. The pyramidion was found very close to where French-Swiss archaeologists, led by Philippe Collombert of the University of Geneva, recently uncovered a 4,300-year-old obelisk last week. At eight feet tall, the obelisk, a tall stone pillar placed at the entrance of burial pyramids, is the largest fragment of an obelisk from the Old Kingdom ever found. The obelisk is inscribed with the title and name of Queen Ankhnespepy II, suggesting it stood before the queen’s pyramid.

The queen’s burial chamber was discovered in 1963 and her pyramid uncovered in 1998. However, archeologists are still searching for her satellite pyramids, tiny pyramids usually found next to the pyramid of a king or queen. The recently uncovered pyramidion was found where near where archaeologists believe we can expect to find the queen’s satellite pyramid. According to Collombert in a statement from the Ministry of Antiquities's official Facebook page, this pyramidion is the first evidence of the existence of satellite pyramids.

“We are 90 percent sure that this pyramidion will lead us to the satellite pyramid,” Collombert tells Newsweek. “But we also expect the satellite pyramid to be almost completely destroyed, because all this area of the necropolis was used in later times as a quarry for good limestone, for centuries.”

As of yet, the true purpose of satellite pyramids is not clear. They are too small for burials and researchers aren't sure what other function they may have served. 

Queen Ankhnespepy II was married to Pepy I, and when widowed she married her nephew Merenre, the son of her deceased husband and her sister. From her marriage to Merenre she gave birth to King Pepy II, who ruled Egypt from about 2332 through 2283 B.C. However, Ankhnespepy II ruled in his place until he came of age. Although she did not ascend as high as the position of Pharaoh, her important position as Queen-regent meant that upon her death, Queen Anknespepy was given a large burial pyramid and an equally large obelisk.

The pyramidion was found south of King Pepy I’s pyramid, in Saqqara necropolis, a vast ancient burial ground 19 miles south of Cairo. The pyramidion measures about 4.2 feet high and 3.6 feet long on its sides. Collombert believes the pyramidion would have once sat on top of the satellite pyramid he and his team are searching for. Although it is now partially destroyed, archaeologists think the pyramidion was once covered with a metal foil, of either gold or copper.

Collombert says (in French) that he and his team will continue to reveal further evidence about the satellite pyramid's location and keep us updated in the search for this ancient mysterious chamber.

Mata Hari: A NASTY Woman

"Mata Hari" by Isaac Israels, 1915
Kroller-Muller Museum

Many American women (and the Mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico) are proud to wear tee shirts proclaiming they are NASTY - the kind of woman that scares the pants off of men like Donald J. Trump and the GOP in general (Hillary Clinton; Nancy Pelosi; Michelle Obama).

After reading this review of an exhibit coming in the Netherlands, birthplace of Margaretha Zelle a/k/a Mata Hari, it seems to me that Zelle was reviled and feared by many men (and some women) not because she was a master spy but because she was a NASTY woman: sexually free, independent, capable of supporting herself in style without depending upon ANY male, assertive, intelligent.  She was perceived as a threat by many because she did not conform to the norms of the day.  Zelle was 41 when she was "executed" by a firing squad in France, after having been convicted of being a German spy.

Mata Hari, 1914.  Source: rarehistoricalphotos.com
Regal, beautiful, threatening to men.

From The New York Times
Nina Siegal, October 13, 2017

Femme Fatale, Fallen Woman, Spy: Looking for the Real Mata Hari

LEEUWARDEN, the Netherlands — In December 1915, Margaretha Zelle, the woman known to all the world as the exotic dancer Mata Hari, was traveling by ship from one of her lovers in Paris to another in The Hague. The international sex symbol was famous for provocative routines in a nude body stocking with a bejeweled bra and golden headdress. Sometimes she would tell people she was a Javanese princess or the daughter of an Indian temple dancer, but only rarely would she reveal that she was Dutch.

It was the middle of World War I and her circuitous route took her through British waters, where the authorities stopped the boat to question those on board.

After looking at Zelle’s papers, and searching her possessions, they made a note: No evidence of anything had been found on her person, but she was nevertheless a “bold sort of woman who is not above suspicion.” In the charged atmosphere of the war, this was enough for the authorities to call for her arrest if she ever tried to enter the United Kingdom again. A copy of their report was sent to the French secret service, where it landed on the desk of a French military intelligence officer, George Ladoux.

Ladoux, convinced that Zelle was a spy, became determined to catch her in an act of espionage. He recruited her to work for French intelligence, sure that she was a double agent for the Germans.

In early 1917, Ladoux later arrested and interrogated Zelle, and garnered what he took as a confession: She admitted to taking money from the Germans, though she firmly denied having ever provided them with any useful espionage. On Oct. 14, Mata Hari was executed by firing squad. Newspaper reports described her as refusing to wear a blindfold and blowing kisses to the soldiers who raised their rifles against her.

Update: Hales Corners Chess Challenge XXVI

Hola:

Where does the time fly, geez Louise!  The HCCC XXVI is TOMORROW, wow!

I don't have a players' list but I was informed a few minutes ago that there are currently 49 pre-registered players, 11 of whom are chess femmes, YAY!  As of right now, that means our female player partcipation rate is at 22%, which is FAB-U-LOUS, dahlings.  Four are playing in the Open and seven in the reserve.  Good luck, ladies!

The October Challenges are the one event a year where Goddesschess shares the love with male players, in the form of the Don McLean Award.  The highest scoring male in the Open Section wins $100, and in the Reserve $50.  (All Goddesschess prizes are in addition to prizes paid by the tournament organizers).  Don, who was one of the founders of Goddesschess and a primary force behind it from its founding in 1999, passed away five years ago.  He covered some events Goddesschess sponsored in Montreal and loved meeting and mixing with the players.  He was a slightly better chessplayer than I, which is to say - not even good enough to earn the "patzer" title :)  We had some rip-roaring games out on the back deck at my former Maison Newton during the summertime and in front of the fireplace during Christmas holidays.

You can find the flyer here.  Players can still register tomorrow between 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.  Four rounds:  10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. 

I hope there will be a big turnout.  Good luck to all!