Item #: SCP-5718
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: Scholarly material is to attribute the ruined complex located in Meidum, Egypt, to the 4th Dynasty Pharaoh Sneferu. And present it as the first failed attempt to build a smooth-sided pyramid tomb. Scholarly material must also perpetuate that SCP-5718-2 is still located at the bottom of the Mediterranean.
Absolutely no access to the interior is to be allowed to the public. All trespassers are to be detained, questioned, and amnesized before release. The original chamber at the center of the structure is to be monitored at all times, access to the chamber is completely barred save for O5 approval. The structure and facility inside have been rigged with a small nuclear warhead in the unlikely event an unknown hostile entity emerges from SCP-5718-2.
Description: SCP-5718-1 is the name given to the ruined pyramid complex located in Meidum, Egypt. The main focal point being the structure identified as a ruined pyramid. This structure is 65 meters (175 cubits) tall, and 144 meters (275 cubits) wide at its base. Inside of the structure is a large passageway leading to a central chamber approximately 9 meters long by 2 meters wide by 5 meters wide, undecorated. In the center of the floor is a shallow niche in which SCP-5718-2 rests. Since 1893, the interior structure has been gutted and converted into a facility for study of the multitude of objects retrieved form SCP-5718-3.
Illustration of SCP-5718-2.
SCP-5718-2 is the name given to a sarcophagus found in the Pyramid of Menkaure at Giza, likely reused by the Pharaoh for his own burial. Made of a black stone originally thought to be basalt, examination has proven it to be made of an unidentified igneous rock. Upon being placed in the chamber niche of SCP-5718-2, access to SCP-5718-3 becomes possible. Transport to SCP-5718-3 was done through SCP-5718-2. When one lays down and is sealed inside, they are transported into an object identical to SCP-5718-2 in a structure labeled SCP-5718-3-1. While occupied, SCP-5718-2 remains sealed.
Photo taken from inside SCP-5718-3. (1937)
SCP-5718-3 is the designation of a place, possibly an alternate dimension, formerly accessible through SCP-5718-2. This dimension is completely barren, covered in large patches of black stone and migrating dunes of grey sand, all of which have been found a perfect match to the stone making up SCP-5718-2. Weather can range from complete calm to roaring winds, while grey thin grey clouds can be seen overhead. The sun emerges and crosses in a new direction each day, emitting a weak pink light. The land is covered in what seems to be burial structures and temples of Ancient Egyptian style, averaging 3.75 miles apart. Further information can be found in the Site Catalog.
Discovery: SCP-5718-1 was first entered in 1837 by John Shae Perring. Being the first to record the interior chamber and recording in his notes:
The Meydum pyramid appears to be the site of a tragic failure by the architects. The outside has collapsed, and hardly resembles more than a large block rising from the desert. The interior has not fared better, for through a crudely cut tunnel one finds a room. Undecorated but for a lowered portion of the floor, on which is the symbol of a star.
SCP-5718-2 was discovered inside the Pyramid of Menkaure on July 28th, 1837 by Richard Vyse. Who also recorded the object in his notes.
It did not bear any inscription or hieroglyphics, but a star on the bottom. The lid had been fixed by two pins in the usual manner, and also by a dovetail, which was rounded.
SCP-5718-2 was transported to the British museum on the ship Beatrice the next year, but was lost in the Mediterranean. In the late 1890s the sarcophagus was recovered by the Royal Society of Anomalous Antiquities under Archaeologist Flinders Petrie. Hypothesizing a connection between the star symbols on SCP-5718-1 and SCP-5718-2.
Shortly after excavation of SCP-5718-1 and SCP-5718-1-1 in 1892. Foundation associate Flinders Petrie matched the dimensions of the SCP-5718-1 niche with SCP-5718-2, and had SCP-5718-2 placed inside the niche. SCP-5718-3 was discovered eight days later when a worker entombed another inside as in an act of horseplay. The worker was trapped in SCP-5718-3 for two days before being recovered. From 1892 to 1920, Flinders Petrie led and recorded expeditions into SCP-5718-3. From 1920 to 1939 expeditions were headed by Howard Carter. Since 1939, SCP-5718-2 has remained sealed and access to SCP-5718-3 is impossible.(See Addendum SCP-5718-A.)
SCP-5718 Site Catalog:
SCP-5718-1-1 (Mastaba 17).
Published in academics as Mastaba 17. The structure was first excavated by Flinders Petrie in 1892. In the burial chamber was found a large granite sarcophagus, along with multiple objects:
- A human skeleton, each bone individually wrapped in linen. (Published) Carbon dated to 3500BCE. (Withheld)
- Two birds skulls. (Published) Unidentified with any known avian species. (Withheld)
- Two broken crooks. (Published)
- A broken tablet made from unknown black rock. (Withheld)
The tablet found inside SCP-5718-1-1 identifies the tomb owner as the Egyptian Deity Geb. The skeleton is currently in Foundation possession, with academia reporting that it had been sent to London and destroyed during air raids in World War Two.
SCP-5718-3-1 photographed from outside. (1899)
Shares the same dimensions as SCP-5718-1. Contains an interior chamber with a sarcophagus identical to SCP-5718-2 in which one will find themselves upon transfer. Parts of the structure had been converted to a base of operations for expeditions further into SCP-5718-3.
A large mastaba located approximately half a kilometer from SCP-5718-3-1. Measuring 150 meters long by 70 meters wide, estimated to have been 13 meters tall and now stands at 9. Excavated by Flinders Petrie in 1893. An exposed corridor was found on the "northern" end, 17 meters long and leading to a burial chamber 8 meters wide by 12 meters long. The chamber contains a wall niche where a sarcophagus likely stood, along with several objects:
- A single clay ushabti, with characteristics from the Middle and New Kingdom periods of Egypt.
- A fragment of goldleaf. On later inspection found to be filled with microscopic tubes reminiscent of tissue and blood vessels.
- Several strips of linen.
SCP-5718-3-2 was formerly used as an outpost for Royal Society exploration parties before the conversion of SCP-5718-3-1.
The foundation ruins of a large temple. Layout contains many characteristics of both 3rd Dynasty and 18th Dynasty temples. Fragments of a statue of Osiris were been found.
A 23 meter tall obelisk. Undecorated except for a single cartouche belonging to an unknown Egyptian King. Leaning 10 degrees.
Head of SCP-5718-3-5. (1894)
A large seated statue, up to its waist in sand. Facial features are unrecognizable due to weathering. Stone sampling has revealed traces of gold and silver.
Recovered photo of SCP-5718-3-6. (1894)
A large wall of mudbrick 57 meters long, 5 meters at the widest point, and up to 11 meters tall. Examination of the bricks reveals a mixture of unknown compounds. Several instances of graffiti have been found on random points along the wall:
- Roughly carved message in hieratic script reading: "Ptahotep, crafter of ruins."
- A message in Sumerian Cuneiform reading: "Darkness."
- A message utilizing classical Greek and Latin interchangeably: "Carlus possesses the mightiest [EXPLICIT] in the land!"
- A neatly carved message in an unknown language. Possibly with Phoenician roots.
- An etching of a leaf carrying a spear.
- A single line consistently shifting to accommodate the perciever's fluent language. In English reads: "Orakhan the Wanderer."
A ruined pyramid measuring 35 by 35 meters. Former height is unknown due to lack of casing stones, now reduced to 2 meters. Burial chamber measures 5 meters by 3 meters and is completely exposed to the sky. When excavated by Petrie, a smashed sarcophagus was found with an erased cartouche. In the rubble hundreds of bone fragments were found which disintegrated upon exposure to the air. No other objects were found.
A square depression in the landscape measuring 10 meters on each side. Depth unknown. Filled with water, which was found to contain large amounts of salt, chlorine, and unknown DNA.
A giant clay drinking vessel halfway buried in the sand. Measures 8 meters tall with a radius of 2 meters. Style dates it to predynastic times. Interior has recently been excavated, findings not yet published.
SCP-5718-3-10 in its ruined state. (1894)
A ruined pyramid complex. The Pyramid itself measures 107 meters on each side, and 59 meters in height. Entrance lies on the north side, and leads to a 17 meter passage. To the left is a storage chamber measuring 6 meters by 3 meters, in which several objects were found:
- A pallet depicting an unknown Egyptian King smiting an enemy with three eyes.
- An iron shovel. Wooden handle carbon-dated to 1700BCE.
- A pottery vessel made from modern concrete.
The burial chamber measures 12 x 7 meters, found at the end of the passage. It is undecorated except for one wall, on which the coffin texts written in Akkadian cuneiform were found. Also in the chamber was a large undecorated sarcophagus. Inside were found fragments of a skull and finger bones. DNA matched to [DATA EXPUNGED]
SCP-5718-3-11 sarcophagus. (1895)
An obelisk and adjoining ruins, found to be an exact clone of SCP-1644. The anomalous effect of SCP-1644's obelisk appears to be reversed, calling people towards the object. In the room below was found a sarcophagus with the same dimensions as that in SCP-1644, but found to be empty. The words "The Ka is reborn" were crudely carved into the lid in heiractic.
A single ruined house made from mudbrick. In the middle of a room a skeleton was found resting on a stone-cut chair, and next to it several fragments of rusted metal identified as parts to a Glock 19 pistol. The skeleton was dated to 2300BCE. In a buried chest behind the house were found a number of objects:
Mummified hand found in SCP-5718-3-12. (1897. Colorized)
- A large fragment of papyrus about the size of the Turin Canon, listing over a hundred unidentified Kings.
- A golden flail.
- 9 Mummified hands, three of which match to 18th Dynasty Egyptian Kings.
A pyramid larger than the Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. Measuring 300 meters on each side, and 200 meters tall. Three chambers were found inside, which were revealed to be empty except for a sarcophagus. Upon opening, a perfectly preserved cadaver was found floating in an unknown liquid. Unusually, the internal organs had not been removed, and the body remains in a state of perfect preservation. A large mastaba network was discovered nearby but was not excavated.
A servant burial pit located near SCP-5718-3-14. (1899)
A large pit tomb similar to those of the 1st Dynasty, but much larger, at 58 x 34 meters. The site appeared to be untouched, and hundreds of objects were found inside, including but not limited to:
- A weight scale made from gold and ivory. With it was found a golden feather. Should anyone who has told a lie in the past 48 hours attempt to touch it, the object will inflict 3rd degree burns.
- A box full of grain seeds, which improve overall health when ingested.
- Hundreds of pots containing basic offerings.
- A large chest, containing the mummified hearts of over 200 identified and unidentified Egyptian Kings.
At the center of the structure a sarcophagus was found. Reportedly covered in a layer of lead which had been poured on. Upon opening of the sarcophagus a mummified body was found. Despite perfectly preserved anatomical features, flesh samples contain the same chemical composition as gold, along with silver for the bones.
A large river, due east of SCP-5718-3-1. Origin point, termination point, and the overall width of the river is unknown. Recent examination of water samples reveals no anomalous traits.
Flinders Petrie's journals note an incident during which his expedition witnessed a boat emerge from the east and beach itself on the shore, letting out a human figure which dissipated shortly after. The boat then left again towards the east. Descriptions of the boat have many similarities to the Khufu Ship discovered in 1954.
Petrie also lists three attempts to find the other side of the river. These were discontinued after the third.
| Attempt |
Experiment |
Results |
| One |
Rolled paper with a message "From the Land of the Dead. Return to Egyptian Antiquities Department. 1897" Sealed inside a bottle and sent into the river. |
Unknown. (See below) |
| Two |
Model boat, rudder bent so as to drive it west. |
Vanished after going into the fog. Recovered in the Nile by steamship near Benha. |
| Three |
Raft piloted by hired Nile Navigator. |
Went into the fog, never seen again. |
The bottle from Attempt One was found on a beach near Helwan in 1992. The message inside, originally written in Egyptian Arabic, had been changed to hieroglyphs and now reads:
To the Land of the living.
Do not enter the temple.
A large temple complex lined with a set of ruined stone walls. Inside the walls patches of grass are found, currently the only area in SCP-5718-3 known to possess plant life. A chapel is located in the center of the complex. At the front is a doorway with two large doors decorated with the scenes of the Goddess Satis. An inscription on the top reads:
Come to me, ye desperate. Come to be granted thy love. Come to me, ye desperate, with your last will ye love be granted.
The doors were originally sealed, and delays caused by World War One prevented examination until 1922. Howard Carter first opened the doors, revealing a room reported by nearby eyewitnesses to be empty. However Carter was drawn inside in a trance-like state, and the doors closed. Two hours later he emerged, and later wrote in his report:
"I met a goddess, a great beautiful goddess who said she could give me what I wanted, as long as I paid the price."
From this point forward the central chapel remained opened and empty. One month later Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun. This is assumed to be the wish that was granted inside the chapel of SCP-5718-3-XX, however the price mentioned remains unknown. (See Addendum SCP-5718-A)
Addendum SCP-5718-A: On February 20th, 1939, a man identified as Howard Carter entered SCP-5718-1 during the night, and sealed himself inside SCP-5718-2. SCP-5718-2 has remained sealed since, barring all access to SCP-5718-3. The only information left behind was a note:
Goodbye to all. No more must be tempted to the lust offered here. I must pay my price, and make sure no more can.
During DNA testing of the mummy of Tutankhamun in 2011, a large percentage of the genes were found to be European. Subsequent samples and testing has shown 100% European, specifically 20th century British, DNA. Official publications have been altered to portray Tutankhamun as a feeble inbred teenager of Egyptian descent. All attempts to regain access to SCP-5718-3 have been discontinued.
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