The ancient Egyptian site of el-Lisht can be found on the west bank of the Nile River, around 65 km south of the city of Cairo.

It is a Twelfth Dynasty necropolis, close to the city of Itj-Tawy[1] from which the modern village assumably (given the proposed older form Al-Isht) takes name.

The first king of the Twelfth Dynasty, Amenemhet I, moved the capital from Thebes to a city near el-Lisht called Itj-tawy,[3] because it was close to the mouth of the Fayyum, and well situated to control the 'Two Lands' of Upper and Lower Egypt.

The ruins of Itj-Tawy have never been conclusively identified, and the only locational evidence discovered consists of pieces of pottery in the area it is believed to be in.

[citation needed] El-Lisht is notable for its commissioners' 'cannibalization' of earlier monuments, which is thought to symbolize the restoration of Egypt to its Old Kingdom glory.

The Pyramid of Amenemhet I was about 55 meters tall when originally built but because of poor construction, quarrying, and tomb robberies,[5] it now stands at approximately 20m in height.

Specifically, stones from the monuments of Khufu, Khafre, Unas, and Pepy have been found at Amenemhat's funerary complex.

A third theory holds that Amenemhat I had already died after designing the tomb, and his son and successor rushed through his father's memorial so that he could start construction on his own.

From here, a hallway lined with pink granite leads to a small room at the core of the pyramid, from where a shaft connects to the burial chamber.

[6] Senusret I built his pyramid on the southern side of el-Lisht, around a mile south of his father's funerary complex.

The excavation team found relief blocks, fragments, and small shrines on the site that were consistent with Middle Kingdom art.

[citation needed] The north side of the pyramid was fronted by a small chapel with an alabaster false door stela, decorated with pictures of offerings being presented.

[9] The funerary temple lay to the east, at the head of the valley causeway leading to the pyramid, and was similar in style to that of Pepi II, a Sixth Dynasty pharaoh.

The central passage within the pyramid led to a burial chamber containing sculpted lion heads that would sprout water out which would flow away through a drain.

Maspero concluded that the transporting tunnel was used by thieves to rob the pyramid because this is where funerary goods from the king’s chambers were found.