Among all ancient Egyptian structures and historical objects, the Dahshur Pyramids leave the most lasting and impressive impression. Builders created the pyramids to bury their owners inside the inner chambers. The Egyptians, including their rulers (pharaohs), believed in resurrection with all possessions and treasures from life. That’s why pharaohs constructed pyramids and tombs to continue their afterlife journey. Many books describe the pyramids and how ordinary people constructed them with the limited technology of their time, which was not expected to last thousands of years through harsh conditions.
The pyramids are Egypt’s main feature and a symbol of ancient Egyptian civilization. Consequently, you will rarely find Egypt or Cairo day tours that do not include a visit to the three Pyramids, Sakkara, or Dahshur. While the three massive pyramids of Giza are the most popular, the two pyramids of Dahshur are also worth visiting.
We aim to shed light on the Dahshur pyramids and provide details if you plan to visit Egypt soon and want to know more about its top attractions. If you are a first-time traveler to Egypt, it’s better to let a travel agency organize your trip rather than going on your own. You also have the option to customize your package. Either way, the Travel to Egypt Company offers both options.
Dahshur Pyramids
The Dahshur desert lies on the west bank of the Nile, south of Cairo. The area served as a royal necropolis for the Egyptian royal family and mainly features two pyramids: the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid. King Sneferu of the 4th dynasty built the Bent Pyramid. This pyramid marked the first attempt to construct a smooth pyramid instead of a stepped one, leading to its incline from 54 to 43 degrees. The second pyramid successfully achieved the classical pyramid shape without false inclinations. We call it the Red Pyramid because of the red ink writings of King Sneferu’s name on the rocks. The Red Pyramid includes three funeral chambers, and the third chamber contains a rare architectural masterpiece with a roof that creates a gradual overhang.
The bent pyramid of Sneferu
The Bent Pyramid of Sneferu, the southern pyramid, was built first. During construction, the architect made a significant error that went unnoticed until the pyramid reached 48 meters in height. This mistake led to completing the pyramid with an inclination rather than a smooth surface. The south Bent Pyramid of Dahshur is made of limestone and features an entrance on the southern face. However, in 1951, scientists discovered an additional entrance on the western side. The area surrounding the pyramid includes other pharaonic structures, such as a small temple with one shrine and a small subsidiary pyramid discovered in 1947.
The red pyramid of Dahshur
King Sneferu built another pyramid 2 km away from the first. This time, the architect corrected his previous mistakes and started the pyramid at a 43-degree angle from the beginning to avoid the inclination seen in the Bent Pyramid. This pyramid became the first perfect pyramid with straight sides and set the standard for those who followed Sneferu in constructing straight and smooth pyramids, such as the three pyramids of Giza.
We call this pyramid the Red Pyramid of Dahshur because its inner burial chamber uses rosette limestone. The northern side features an entrance leading to the inner chamber, which connects to a second chamber via a passageway. At the end of the second chamber, another passage leads to the burial chamber. Overall, the pyramid contains three small chambers with high walls, likely of the same size.
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