Pyramid of Userkaf

Userkaf was the first pharaoh of the 5th Dynasty and ruled for 8 years from 2494 until 2487 BCE.

There is little with Userkaf's pyramid to impress visitors. Most pass it, and with good reason.Yet there are some details to look out for, should you be interested. First is, of course, the issue of location. Why did he place his pyramid so close to the 200 year older pyramid of Zoser? The location corresponds exactly to the northeastern corner of Zoser's pyramid. We might read into this that the pyramid of Zoser had risen to the highest religious importance; the architect of Zoser's pyramid, Imhotep, was eventually elevated to god.The other point of interest is that the funerary complex was built to the south of the pyramid. This has been explained as a change in the religion towards the sun cult of Heliopolis.The construction technique was based on the belief that the original casing would protect the inner structure. But the casing was removed by later house builders, and left was the badly built inside.

Source: http://www.lexicorient.com/egypt/saqqara20.htm

Userkaf

King Userkaf became king by marrying the half sister of the pharaoh before him (Shepseskaf) who perhaps did not have any children (sons) to inherit the throne.Nothing of substance is known about his background besides the fact that he married in to the royal family.Coming into office as an middle aged man he did not have a long reign but manage to build a pyramid for his final rest.He is the first king to have left fragments of a colossal statue (pictures left). It's a big head from a statue made of red granite (original height 6-7 m?) that probably stood by the Funeral Temple at his pyramid in Sakkara.

http://www.nemo.nu/ibisportal/0egyptintro/3egypt/3sidor/3userkaf.htm