The Pyramids of Sneferu at Dahshur
Placed in its rightful context, the audacious building programme of Sneferu cannot fail to inspire. During a highly energetic and ambitious reign, Sneferu was responsible for the construction of three substantial pyramids – the two here at Dahshur and his badly damaged pyramid at Meidum. Their scale alone warrants considerable admiration. Yet it is the innovative building techniques, and the advancements in architectural design, for which Sneferu will best be remembered. The culmination of this outpouring of creativity is marked by the successful transition from step pyramid to true geometric pyramid.
Indeed Sneferu’s achievements mark him down as a worthy successor to Djoser and his celebrated architect, Imhotep. Their pioneering work in monumental stone architecture, as evidenced in the step pyramid at Saqqara, set in motion a tradition for royal burial that would continue down to the end of the Middle Kingdom. The Red Pyramid represents the culmination of years of trial and error in pyramid design and engineering. It is the result of one man’s pursuit of the “perfect” tomb – and a burial that would secure his immortality amongst the gods. Its elegant form and precise proportions would be the basis on which future generations would build their own tombs. The stunning achievements of Sneferu richly enhanced Egyptian funerary architecture in that pioneering age. Their influence had a profound bearing on the ambitions of Sneferu’s immediate successors – those master-builders who would re-shape the desert plateau at Giza with even grander pyramids.
Date of Construction: 4th Dynasty, second half of the reign of Sneferu (c. 2520 – 2470 B.C.)
Highlights:
Modifications to the external appearance of the Bent Pyramid
Interior of the Red Pyramid
- An Introduction to Dahshur - 1:36
- The Reign of Sneferu - 1:51
- The Bent Pyramid - 2:57
- The Red Pyramid - 2:23
- The Corbelled Chambers - 1:16
- The Burial Chamber - 1:11
- The Mortuary Temple - 3:08
