Shop Japan The Pyramid of Meidum

The Pyramid of Meidum

The development of pyramid architecture undertook its most significant steps during the reign of king Sneferu. As head of a new line of fourth dynasty rulers, his reign is noted for its prodigious and innovative building programme. He can be attributed as the owner of no less than three pyramids – the one here at Meidum, in addition to the Bent and Red pyramids further north at Dahshur. The earlier step-pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara had been the catalyst for an explosion of creative design on an unprecedented scale – an advancement in stone building that would culminate with the first true geometrical pyramids – a revolution that would forever change the face of Egyptian funerary architecture.

This was the earliest of Sneferu’s funerary monuments and work at the site started in the first half of the reign. Originally it was conceived as a seven-stepped pyramid – undoubtedly having drawn inspiration from the blueprint set down by Djoser. However, at some point in its construction, work was stopped and a new design was adopted. The base of the pyramid was subsequently enlarged and its transformation into an eight-stepped structure began to take shape. Upon completion of this enlarged step-pyramid, the complex was mysteriously abandoned. In the twilight years of his reign, Sneferu would re-evaluate work on the pyramid that he had abandoned some fifteen years earlier. The pyramid would be subjected to a final metamorphosis – being transformed into a true pyramid. The eight steps were now filled in and the entire structure was encased with finely polished stone. Its final form would mirror the silhouettes of Sneferu’s other pyramids on the distant horizon to the north at Dahshur.

Date of Construction: 4th Dynasty, reign of Sneferu (c. 2520 – 2470 B.C.)

Highlights:
Construction showing the transition from step pyramid to true pyramid
Innovative corbelling of the ceiling of the burial chamber
King’s cult chapel