Sneferu follows his construction projects at Meidum…
2613 BCE to 2602 BCE
Sneferu follows his construction projects at Meidum with the famous Bent Pyramid, located at the royal necropolis of Dahshur, approximately forty kilometers south of Cairo, a unique example of early pyramid development in Egypt.
The lower part of the pyramid rises from the desert at a fifty-five degree inclination, but the top section is built at the shallower angle of forty-three degrees, lending the pyramid its very obvious "bent" appearance.
Archaeologists now believe that the Bent Pyramid represents a transitional form between step-sided and smooth-sided pyramids.
It has been suggested that due to the steepness of the original angle of inclination the structure may have begun to show signs of instability during construction, forcing the builders to adopt a shallower angle to avert the structure's collapse.
This theory appears 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 forty-three degrees from its base (giving it a noticeably squat appearance compared to other Egyptian pyramids of comparable scale).
The Bent Pyramid has a small satellite pyramid of unknown purpose immediately to its south, and an early form of offering temple on its eastern side.
It is also unique among the approximately ninety pyramids to be found in Egypt, in that its original polished limestone outer casing remains largely intact.