The Red Pyramid of Sneferu

Red Pyramid of Sneferu

Red Pyramid of Sneferu is the second biggest pyramid  722 feet per side  in Egypt. However, it is leaning much less (43 degrees 22 ) and shorter at 343 feet. Fourth tightest pyramid built, with 160 layers of stone. First prosperous true pyramid (not established around steps, etc) in Egypt and is the root of the Giza pyramids.

Built by Khufus father, Sneferu, who built three pyramids (at least). Also referred to as the Shining Pyramid or Northwest Pyramid. Layers of white limestone were laid for the foot, and tura limestone was used as casing. Nearly of the casing stones had letterings on the back in red paint appointment crews and cartouches. There are no identifying in scrfiptions in side the pyramid. Some of the stones are dated  giving us an idea of how long it read to build the pyramid and the episode of work. Around 30 pct of the pyramid had been completed and the entire pyramid was bright in 17 years. A mortuary temple remains to the east, and a pyramid was got and reconstructed. Not much continues of the temple, but it showed in the east-west preference of later temples. Entrance in the north side, leads to a 206 foot down passage (27 degrees) to the first chamber with a corbelled ceiling about 40 tall. All chambers have a corbelled ceiling, with between 11 and 14 layers in each. This is a very strong ceiling design. A transition on the south side results to the second chamber (whatever of the ehse are at ground level) and a third chamber (entered by a staircase) is last up in the pyarmid.

Inside the red pyramid of Sneferu

The second chamber is durectly under the peak of the pyarmid  one of the alone pyramids to have this layout. The entry to the third chamber is about 25 feet above with a modern staircase, leading to a 23 foot passage. This is probably the inhumation chamber with a 50 ceiling. The floor has been unearthed in an seek to find other passages. The severe structural probles seen while building the Bent Pyramid at Dashur South, led Sneferu to build yet other pyramid, at a small length to the North. White from its limestone casing, this new pyramid is has a redish colour, therefore its modern-day name, the Red Pyramid. Its Ancient Egyptian name was  xa, The Shining One. An lettering learned at the base of this pyramid has indicated that work had started during the year of the 15th cattle count of Sneferu's reign. Since the cattle counts were held at strong intervals during this reign, this refers to somewhere between Sneferu's 15th and 30th year. Interestingly, a second dedication was found 30 runs of stones higher. it is dated 2 to 4 years later than the lettering found at the base. This gives an idea about the speed at which the Egyptians were able to build a memorial like this pyramid.

The work on this pyramid plausibly started when functional problems found when ramping up the Bent Pyramid affected the builders to temporarily break this project. The Red Pyramid was built with a slope of only 4322'. Its base length is 220 metres, that is 32 metres more than the Bent Pyramid. Its height is the very as the Bent Pyramid in its final state: 105 metres. The broader base and lower slope were meant to better spread the mass of this pyramid and therefore avoid the structural jobs that had temporarily blocked works on the Bent Pyramid. The national structure of this pyramid is a further continuation of the pyramid at Meidum and the Bent Pyramid. Contrary to this latter monument, however, there is only one internal structure, making it a lot more smooth. The entering is located high up in the Northern face of the pyramid. A descending passage leads down for 62.63 ms to a short level corridor. This is followed by two about identical antechambers with corbelled roofs. Both antechambers measure 3.65 by 8.36 meters and are 12.31 metres high. The burying chamber can only be reached via a short passage which opens high up in the wall of the second lobby. The burial chamber measures 4.18 by 8.55 ms. Its corbelled roof goes up to a peak of 14.67 meters. It is located well above groundlevel, in the effect of the pyramid.

The Bent Pyramid of Sneferu

Bent Pyramid of Sneferu

The following pyramid usually associated with Sneferu is the Bent Pyramid. Some it and the Red Pyramid are placed at Dashur between Saqqara and the Meidum Pyramid. Whatever pyramids are near two thirds the height of the Great Pyramid. The Bent Pyramid is 101 ms high while the  Red  Pyramid  is  104  metres  high  which  is  about  the  height  of  a  30  story  building.

The  lower  part  of  the  pyramid  rises  from  the  desert  at  a  54-degree  lean,  but  the  top segment is built at the shallower angle of 43 points, lending the pyramid its very plain "bent" visual aspect. Archaeologists  now  believe  that  the  Bent Pyramid  being  a  transitional  form between  step-sided  and  smooth-sided pyramids. It has been indicated that due to the  steepness  of  the  particular  angle  of leaning  the  construction  may  have  got to  show  signs  of  instability  during construction, forcing the builders to adopt a  shallower  angle  to  avert  the  social system's collapse.  This  theory  comes out  to  be  borne out  by  the  fact  that  the  adjacent  Red Pyramid,  built  immediately  afterwards  by the  same  Pharaoh,  was  constructed  at  an angle of 43 degrees from its base. 

View in the lower main chamber of bent pyramid

This fact also belies the theory that at the original angle the construction would take too long because  Sneferu's  dying  was  nearing,  so  the  builders  transferred  the  angle  to  complete  the expression in time. In 1974 Kurt Mendelssohn indicated the change of the angle to have been made  as  a  protection  precaution  in  reaction  to  a  bad  collapse  of  the Meidum Pyramid while it was still under construction.

It is also unique amongst the or so ninety pyramids to be found in Egypt, in that its original processed limestone outer in case remains for the Nearly part intact. British functional engineer Peter James  attributes  this  to  larger  clearances  between  the  parts  of  the  casing  than  used  in  later pyramids;  these  imperfections  would  work  as  expansion  joints  and  preclude  the  successive wipe-out of the outer in case by thermal expansion.

The Meidum Pyramid of Sneferu

The Meidum Pyramid of Sneferu

The Meidum Pyramid of Sneferu locate near the Faiyum area processed as a royal necropolis for the 3rd and 4th  Dynasties. A step pyramid at Meidum was likely started by Huni (r. 2599-2575  B.C.E.)  and  completed  by  Sneferu  (r. 2575-2551  B.C.E.). This  pyramid  was  erected  on  an earthen  platform  and  was  composed  originally  of  eight layers. The construction collapsed some time later, possibly as  late  as  the  New  Kingdom  (1550-1070  B.C.E.).  The external casing, however, was hurt and collapsed during  construction.  The  mummies  of  different  individuals were discovered in the leaving debris. Interior passages and  chambers  led  to  a  vertical  shaft  and  a  burying  room, which  was  lined  with  limestone.  The  remains  of  a wooden coffin were discovered in this corbeled chamber, and a mortuary temple was also found on the east side of the pyramid, checking two rounded stelae. A causeway besides led to a valley temple.

A serial of Fourth Dynasty (2575-2465 B.C.E.) Mastaba tombs surroundings the pyramid, some  bearing spectacular reliefs and statuary. The famous Meidum geese paintings  were  part  of  the  reliefs  in  the  grave  of  Nefermaat and  his  wife  Atet.  Near,  the  mastaba  of  Prince Rahotep and his wife Nofret disciplined a unique portrait title statue group. The pictures and statues are in the  Egyptian  Museum  in  Cairo.  A  Fifth  Dynasty (2465-2323 B.C.E.) mummy was also observed in Meidum.