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June 11, 2023

The Pyramid of Unas: Texts Translated with Commentary by Alexandre Piankoff PDF - Free and Easy Download

# Outline of the Article ## Introduction - What is the Pyramid of Unas and why is it important? - Who is Alexandre Piankoff and what did he do? - What is the PDF download of his book and where can you find it? ## The Pyramid of Unas: A Brief History - When and where was it built? - What are the main features of its architecture and design? - What are the religious texts and representations on its walls? ## Alexandre Piankoff: A Biography - When and where was he born and educated? - What were his main achievements and contributions to Egyptology? - How did he discover and translate the Pyramid of Unas texts? ## The PDF Download of The Pyramid of Unas: Texts Translated with Commentary - What is the content and format of the book? - What are the benefits and drawbacks of reading it online or offline? - How can you access and download it for free or for a fee? ## Conclusion - Summarize the main points of the article - Emphasize the significance and value of the Pyramid of Unas and Piankoff's work - Provide a call to action for the reader to download or read the book ## FAQs - Q1: How long did it take Piankoff to translate the Pyramid of Unas texts? - A1: It took him about 20 years, from 1946 to 1966. - Q2: How many spells are there in the Pyramid of Unas texts? - A2: There are 228 spells, which are among mankind's oldest literary documents. - Q3: What is the difference between smooth-sided and stepped pyramids? - A3: Smooth-sided pyramids have a smooth outer surface made of limestone casing stones, while stepped pyramids have a series of steps or terraces on their sides. - Q4: What is the purpose of the religious texts and representations on the pyramid walls? - A4: They are meant to assist in the king's passage from his earthly body into the world of the beyond, by providing protection, guidance, and transformation. - Q5: What are some other sources of information about the Pyramid of Unas and Piankoff's work? - A5: Some other sources are Wikipedia articles, JSTOR articles, online archives, and other books on Egyptology. # The Article # Piankoff The Pyramid Of Unas Pdf Download Have you ever wondered about one of the most ancient and mysterious monuments in Egypt? Have you ever heard of a book that contains a translation and commentary of some of mankind's oldest literary documents? If you are interested in learning more about these topics, then this article is for you. In this article, I will tell you about the Pyramid of Unas, a smooth-sided pyramid built in the 24th century BC for the Egyptian pharaoh Unas, which has religious texts and representations on its walls. I will also tell you about Alexandre Piankoff, an eminent Egyptologist who discovered and translated these texts in his book The Pyramid of Unas: Texts Translated with Commentary. Finally, I will tell you how you can download this book as a PDF file for free or for a fee from various online sources. By reading this article, you will gain valuable knowledge and insight into one of the most fascinating aspects of ancient Egyptian culture and history. ## The Pyramid of Unas: A Brief History The Pyramid of Unas is located at Sakkara, near Cairo. It was built for Unas, the ninth and final king of the Fifth Dynasty, who ruled from 2375 to 2345 BC. It is the smallest of the Old Kingdom pyramids, measuring about 57 meters on each side and 43 meters high. It is also the first pyramid to have a smooth outer surface made of limestone casing stones, instead of a series of steps or terraces. This style of pyramid construction became more common in later dynasties. The Pyramid of Unas has a complex internal structure, consisting of a descending corridor, an antechamber, a burial chamber, and five small chambers above the burial chamber. The burial chamber contains a large granite sarcophagus, which once held the mummy of Unas, but was found empty and broken by robbers. The walls of the burial chamber and the antechamber are covered with hieroglyphic inscriptions and colorful images, which are known as the Pyramid Texts. These are the earliest religious texts of ancient Egypt, dating back to more than 4000 years ago. They consist of 228 spells or utterances, which are meant to assist in the king's passage from his earthly body into the world of the beyond. They include prayers, hymns, invocations, magical formulas, and descriptions of the afterlife. They also depict the king as a divine being, who is identified with various gods and goddesses, such as Osiris, Re, Atum, Horus, Isis, and Hathor. The Pyramid Texts are among mankind's oldest literary documents, and they have influenced later Egyptian religious literature, such as the Coffin Texts and the Book of the Dead. They are also a valuable source of information about ancient Egyptian beliefs, cosmology, mythology, and language. However, they are not easy to understand or interpret, as they use obscure symbols, metaphors, and references. They also have many variants and errors, due to the different scribes who copied them over time. ## Alexandre Piankoff: A Biography Alexandre Piankoff was a Russian-born French Egyptologist who devoted his life to studying and translating the Pyramid Texts. He was born in St. Petersburg in 1897 and educated in Moscow and Paris. He became interested in Egyptology after visiting Egypt in 1926. He joined the French Institute of Oriental Archaeology in Cairo in 1934 and participated in several excavations and expeditions in Egypt and Sudan. In 1946, he began his monumental work on the Pyramid Texts. He visited the Pyramid of Unas and took photographs of its walls. He then spent years deciphering and analyzing the inscriptions, using his knowledge of ancient Egyptian language, religion, and culture. He also consulted previous studies and translations by other scholars, such as Kurt Sethe, James Henry Breasted, Samuel Mercer, and Raymond Faulkner. In 1968, he published his book The Pyramid of Unas: Texts Translated with Commentary, which is part of a series called Egyptian Religious Texts and Representations. This book contains his annotated translation of the Pyramid Texts, his introduction to their historical and religious context, a complete photographic record of the texts on seventy plates, and ten other illustrations and plans of the Pyramid. It is considered one of the most authoritative and comprehensive works on the subject. Piankoff died in Paris in 1966, before he could finish his work on the other pyramids that contain Pyramid Texts, such as those of Teti, Pepi I, Pepi II, and Merenre. His wife Natacha Rambova (a former actress and costume designer who married him in 1934) continued his work after his death and published some of his unfinished manuscripts. ## The PDF Download of The Pyramid of Unas: Texts Translated with Commentary If you want to read Piankoff's book on the Pyramid Texts online or offline, you have several options to download it as a PDF file. Here are some of them: - You can access it for free from online archives or libraries that have digitized it or scanned it from a physical copy. For example, you can find it on [archive.org](https://archive.org/details/pyramidofunas0005unse), where you can view it online or download it as a PDF file or other formats. - You can buy it from online bookstores or publishers that sell it as an e-book or a print-on-demand book. For example, you can find it on [amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/Pyramid-Unas-Texts-Translated-Commentary/dp/0691098388), where you can buy it as a hardcover book or a Kindle e-book. - You can borrow it from online libraries or databases that have subscribed to it or licensed it from its original publisher or author. For example, you can find it on [jstor.org](https://www.jstor.org/stable/1201459), where you can read it online or download it as a PDF file or other formats. - You can also use a PDF converter tool or software that can convert other formats of the book (such as EPUB, MOBI, or TXT) into a PDF file. For example, you can use [calibre](https://calibre-ebook.com/), a free and open-source e-book manager that can convert e-books into various formats. Reading Piankoff's book on the Pyramid Texts as a PDF file has some benefits and drawbacks. Some of the benefits are: - You can read it on any device that supports PDF files, such as computers, tablets, smartphones, or e-readers. - You can adjust the font size, zoom level, brightness, and orientation of the PDF file according to your preference and comfort. - You can search for keywords, highlight passages, add notes, and bookmark pages on the PDF file. - You can print out the PDF file or share it with others easily. Some of the drawbacks are: - You may not be able to enjoy the original layout, design, and quality of the book as it was printed. - You may not be able to access some of the features or functions of the book that are available in other formats, such as audio narration, interactive elements, or hyperlinks. - You may encounter some compatibility or formatting issues with different devices or software that may affect your reading experience. ## Conclusion In this article, I have told you about the Pyramid of Unas, a smooth-sided pyramid built in the 24th century BC for the Egyptian pharaoh Unas, which has religious texts and representations on its walls. I have also told you about Alexandre Piankoff, an eminent Egyptologist who discovered and translated these texts in his book The Pyramid of Unas: Texts Translated with Commentary. Finally, I have told you how you can download this book as a PDF file for free or for a fee from various online sources. The Pyramid of Unas and Piankoff's work are both remarkable achievements that deserve your attention and appreciation. They reveal a lot about ancient Egyptian culture and history, as well as about human creativity and curiosity. They also challenge you to think deeply and critically about the meaning and purpose of life and death. If you are interested in reading more about these topics, I encourage you to download or read Piankoff's book on the Pyramid Texts. It will enrich your knowledge and insight into one of the most fascinating aspects of ancient Egyptian civilization. It will also inspire you to explore other sources of information about the Pyramid of Unas and Piankoff's work. ## FAQs Q1: How long did it take Piankoff to translate the Pyramid of Unas texts? A1: It took him about 20 years, from 1946 to 1966. Q2: How many spells are there in the Pyramid of Unas texts? A2: There are 228 spells, which are among mankind's oldest literary documents. Q3: What is the difference between smooth-sided and stepped pyramids? A3: Smooth-sided pyramids have a smooth outer surface made of limestone casing stones, while stepped pyramids have a series of steps or terraces on their sides. Q4: What is the purpose of the religious texts and representations on the pyramid walls? A4: They are meant to assist in the king's passage from his earthly body into the world of the beyond, by providing protection, guidance, and transformation. Q5: What are some other sources of information about the Pyramid of Unas and Piankoff's work? A5: Some other sources are Wikipedia articles, JSTOR articles, online archives , and other books on Egyptology.