Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid

Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid

by Günther Eichhorn

These are some of the oldest pyramids. The Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid are close together in Dahshur. They are from the Old Kingdom, built by Pharaoh Sneferu (2613-2589 BCE), father of Khufu and founder of the 4^th dynasty. The Bent Pyramid was the first successful pyramid built in the typical pyramid shape. Pharaoh Huni (2637-2613 BCE) had started a pyramid in Meidum, his son Sneferu tried to finish it. This pyramid was built with walls that were too steep for the construction material, so it collapsed. Sneferu learned from that and when the Bent Pyramid started to show signs of weakening, they changed the angle of the walls on the Bent Pyramid halfway during construction from the steep 53° to a more moderate 43° and therefore managed to build the first lasting pyramid. Before that, the burial monuments were in the form of the Step Pyramid. The Red Pyramid is the oldest pyramid in the straight pyramid shape, built just after the Bent Pyramid.

Both the Bent and the Red Pyramids are about 105 m (345 ft) high. They are the third largest pyramids after the two largest ones in Giza. The Bent Pyramid retains most of the outer casing. Only one of the Great Pyramids in Giza has some of the casing left at the top. Originally, the pyramids were a gleaming white, which must have been a very impressive sight.

The Red Pyramid provides access to the burial chamber. You reach it through a very steep passage with 125 steps, 63 m (207 ft) long that starts 1/3 up the pyramid and climbs down to about ground level. When I climbed in there, there were no lights inside. My flashlight didn't provide enough light for my camera, so I didn't get a picture of the inside. There are two 12 m (40 ft) high antechambers and a 15 m (50 ft) high magnificent main chamber, in which human remains were found, probably remains of Pharaoh Sneferu himself.

Back side of the Red Pyramid (194k) Front of the Red Pyramid. You can see the entrance to the burial chamber 1/3 way up the pyramid. (310k) Closer view of the front of the Red Pyramid. (361k) The path up to the entrance of the burial chamber (573k) The Red Pyramid in the foreground, with the Bent Pyramid in the back. (277k)
The stairs going down to the burial chamber in the Red Pyramid. (308k) Full view of the Bent Pyramid. You can see the change in the angle of the pyramid faces and the white casing that is mostly intact. (258k) Closer view of the Bent Pyramid. (321k) Close-up of one side of the Bent Pyramid with casing. (315k) Looking up a corner of the Bent Pyramid (328k)
Close-up of the corner of the Bent Pyramid. You can see the base structure of the pyramid and the white casing. (334k) Close-up of the Bent Pyramid casing. (364k) Remains of an older pyramid. (147k) View from the Red Pyramid towards Cairo. You can see several pyramids, including the Step Pyramid. (148k) t was overcast with occasional holes in the clouds. Here the sun just illuminated the Step Pyramid in the distance. (153k)

Here are the links to the other pages on Egypt:

Today's Egypt Ancient Egypt

People
Nature
Architecture
Mythology
Pharaohs

Today's Egypt	Ancient Egypt
People	Nature	Architecture	Mythology	Pharaohs

All pictures are © Günther Eichhorn

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Back side of the Red Pyramid (194k)	Front of the Red Pyramid. You can see the entrance to the burial chamber 1/3 way up the pyramid. (310k)	Closer view of the front of the Red Pyramid. (361k)	The path up to the entrance of the burial chamber (573k)	The Red Pyramid in the foreground, with the Bent Pyramid in the back. (277k)
The stairs going down to the burial chamber in the Red Pyramid. (308k)	Full view of the Bent Pyramid. You can see the change in the angle of the pyramid faces and the white casing that is mostly intact. (258k)	Closer view of the Bent Pyramid. (321k)	Close-up of one side of the Bent Pyramid with casing. (315k)	Looking up a corner of the Bent Pyramid (328k)
Close-up of the corner of the Bent Pyramid. You can see the base structure of the pyramid and the white casing. (334k)	Close-up of the Bent Pyramid casing. (364k)	Remains of an older pyramid. (147k)	View from the Red Pyramid towards Cairo. You can see several pyramids, including the Step Pyramid. (148k)	t was overcast with occasional holes in the clouds. Here the sun just illuminated the Step Pyramid in the distance. (153k)