Dahshur Situated in the desert at about 10km south of Saqqara, the site was an off limit military zone until 1996 and to this day the Bent Pyramid can...
DAHSHUR
Situated in the desert at about 10km south of Saqqara, the site was an off limit military zone until 1996 and to this day the Bent Pyramid can only be seen at a distance. Not so, for the Red Pyramid, the site is quickly becoming a favorite with serious antiquity lovers because it is less crowded and cheaper than Saqqara.
The field contains some of the most impressive of all the pyramids in existence and answers some of the most significant questions on the history of pyramid building, although still holding many mysteries. One can consider the site as a sort of pyramidal production line; like Henry Ford with his cars, the architects kept building until they got it right, it took a while but they did it. From the original 11 pyramids, only the Bent and the Red Pyramids remain intact, both date from Old Kingdom period and are credited to Snofru or Sneferu (2613-2588BC) father of Cheops and the founder of the IV Dynasty. The pyramids create the link between the Step Pyramid at Saqqara and the Pyramids at Giza.
To the east of the site stand the three Middle Kingdom complexes dating from the era of the revival of pyramid building (1991-1790BC). When the site was excavated in the nineteenth century nothing of interest was found inside the pyramids, but further excavation revealed magnificent jewelry found in the surrounding tombs (the jewels are now displayed in Cairo’s Antiquity Museum). How the thieves overlooked the jewelry is one of the several mysteries still unsolved about the site.
§THE RED PYRAMID
The Red Pyramid considered the world’s oldest true pyramid stands 101m. It was named after the color of the limestone from which it was built. Having learnt from their experience at the Bent Pyramid Snofru’s architects refined their plans and tried again for perfection in building the Red Pyramid. Some Egyptologists claim that none of the pyramids was to Snofru’s taste and that he was not laid to rest in any of them. Others claim that human remains found in the Red Pyramid, the perfect one, could be those of the King. Yet others say that he chose to be buried in the Bent Pyramid, still another mystery to be solved.
The Red Pyramid, now open to the public, is a must-see for pyramid enthusiasts, but they must be aware that the pyramid has a bad side and a good side. The bad side is that the chambers are dark and smelly, smelly from lack of ventilation, but the good side is that unlike at the Pyramid at Giza you will probably be alone in there to enjoy exploring at leisure. Therefore, if you bring a flashlight (a torch) and breathe through your mouth you can have a nice quiet visit.
§THE BENT PYRAMID
South of the Red Pyramid, is the bent Pyramid standing 97m high, it is considered to be Snofru’s architect’s first try at pyramid building. Experimenting with ways to create a true pyramid, (true meaning smooth sided) they started off in the same manner in which the Step Pyramid was built, but halfway up, the structure showed signs of instability. Therefore, they began to lay stones horizontally, as opposed to vertically, hoping to balance it, hence, it‘s unusual shape. To explain the bend in the pyramid, some say the builders got tired of all the hard work and changed the angle as to reduce the volume so they could complete the work sooner. Another reason would be that they feared Snefru’s reaction when the pyramid at Meidum collapsed and trying to rush through their work became sloppy.
Some scholars believe that the Bent Pyramid is where Snofru was buried, others disagree. However, setting aside the fact of the spot that the elusive King chose as his final resting place, the Bent pyramid is the most well preserved and breathtaking of all the pyramids. What makes it most interesting and different, is its shape. It rises more steeply than that of the Red or the Giza pyramids climbing steadily for three quarters of its height, before suddenly narrowing. Another aspect making it different from the others is that it also has two entrances. The first entrance situated in the middle of the north face wall at about 12m above the ground and leading to the upper chamber, the second at the west face, just above ground, leading to the lower chamber.
When visiting the site it would be a good idea to bring a flashlight, to use when visiting inside the pyramid, in addition to the usual water, sun protection and hat.
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