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The Pyramid of Neferirkare was built for the Fifth Dynasty pharaoh Neferirkare Kakai in the 25th century BC. It was the tallest structure on the highest site at the Abusir necropolis and still towers above it today. The Fifth Dynasty marked the end of the great pyramid constructions during the Old Kingdom. Pyramids of the era were smaller and had intricate relief decoration. Neferirkare's pyramid was originally built as a step pyramid, a design antiquated after the Third Dynasty (26th or 27th century BC). Alterations were intended to convert it into a true pyramid, but the pharaoh's death left the project to his successors. Completed in haste, Neferirkare's monument lacked a valley temple and pyramid town. Instead, there was a small settlement of mudbrick houses where cult priests could conduct their daily activities. The Abusir papyri were discovered in the temple of Neferirkare in 1893. (Full article...)

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Vivianne Miedema playing for Arsenal

... that Arsenal footballer Vivianne Miedema (pictured) is the all-time leading scorer in the FA Women's Super League and has scored more goals at the international level than any other Dutch player?
... that in the 17th-century card game of Penneech, named after its highest card, the seven of diamonds, the trump suit changes with each trick?
... that to promote their 2011 concept album David Koresh Superstar, based on the 1993 Waco siege, UK indie rock band the Indelicates created the video game Super David Koresh Attack?
... that Maine's Lewiston Daily Sun and its successor, the Sun Journal, were owned by the same family—Louis B. Costello, his son, and grandson—for more than 70 years?
... that a petition by Canadian member of parliament Pierre Poilievre to stop the Great Reset amassed 80,000 signatures after a conspiracy theory spread about it?
... that Andrew Clyde became involved in politics after being subject to a civil asset forfeiture of nearly $1 million by the Internal Revenue Service?
... that the Plessey AR-3D made use of the annoying problem of "squint" to produce a simple 3D radar?
... that Chorabari Lake no longer exists?

In the news

COVID-19 pandemic: Disease; Virus; By location; Impact; Vaccines; Portal

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

Former President of France Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (pictured) dies at the age of 94.
In baseball, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks defeat the Yomiuri Giants to win their fourth-straight Japan Series.
Ingrida Šimonytė takes office as Prime Minister of Lithuania.
Argentine footballer Diego Maradona dies at the age of 60.

On this day

December 5: Krampusnacht in parts of Central Europe

Henry Knox's noble train of artillery

1757 – Seven Years' War: Prussian troops under Frederick the Great defeated Austrian forces at the Battle of Leuthen.
1775 – American Revolutionary War: Continental Army colonel Henry Knox arrived at Fort Ticonderoga in New York to arrange the transport of 60 tons of artillery (depicted) to support the Siege of Boston.
1945 – Flight 19, a squadron of five U.S. Navy torpedo bombers, disappeared over the Bermuda Triangle.
1974 – The Birmingham Americans won the only World Bowl in World Football League history.

Afanasy Fet (b. 1820)
John Jellicoe, 1st Earl Jellicoe (b. 1859)
Clair Cameron Patterson (d. 1995)

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Today's featured picture

Martin Van Buren (December 5, 1782 – July 24, 1862) was an American statesman who served as the eighth president of the United States from 1837 to 1841. A founder of the Democratic Party, he won the 1836 presidential election with the endorsement of popular outgoing President Andrew Jackson and the organizational strength of his party. He lost his 1840 reelection bid to the Whig Party nominee William Henry Harrison, thanks in part to the poor economic conditions surrounding the Panic of 1837, a financial crisis that touched off a major depression. This line engraving of Van Buren was produced around 1902 by the Department of the Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) as part of a BEP presentation album of the first 26 presidents.

Engraving credit: Bureau of Engraving and Printing; restored by Andrew Shiva

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