The Bent Pyramid One of the most intriguing looking pyramids is the Southern Pyramid of Sneferu. This pyramid stands in stark relief against the flat Sahara Desert and invokes an awesome feeling as you approach it. This is how it appears when approached from the west face: Visit The Bent PyramidThe Red Pyramid The Northern Pyramid of Sneferu has a calmer angle of 44 degrees, the same as the top portion of the Bent pyramid. NOW you can enter this pyramid and explore its passageways and chambers! Here is how it looks, as viewed from the Bent pyramid, looking at its southern face: Visit The Red Pyramid RETURN TO Guardian's Egypt Main Gate Dahshur Although relatively little known in modern times, Dahshur was a main breeding ground for the pyramid age. Here we find several pyramids, including two Old Kingdom pyramids, both unique, and both a distinct phase in the evolution of pyramid building and the pyramid complex. King Sneferu, father of Khufu, was the curious builder of these
pyramids, and perhaps even the earlier one at Meidum
. The
Bent Pyramid earned its name from its distinct change in angle. The pyramid was began at
an angle of 52 degrees and midway through its construction this angle was suddenly and
still inexplicably changes to the safer angle of 43 degrees. Some experts theorize that the
pyramid at Meidum suffered its collapse during the building of this pyramid and it was
this event that sparked the change in angle. Other experts believe that the Meidum pyramid
collapsed much later, and this change in angle in the Bent pyramid would come for a
different reason. Whatever the reason is, King Sneferu began a second pyramid at Dahshur,
north of this first pyramid. This second pyramid, now called the Northern or Red Pyramid, was
completely built at the angle of 43 degrees, as with the top portion of the Bent Pyramid. The site also contains two pyramids from a later time, the 12th Dynasty. These pyramids were of far less quality at their interior which were only fortified with simple mudbrick. Back To PICTURES Guardian's CyberJourney
To Egypt
|