Photographs from Dashur

Some of My Photographs from Dashur

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The Red Pyramid of Snefru
The North or "Red" pyramid is thought to be the last of three built by the Pharaoh Snefru of the 4th Dynasty. Originally, the pyramid had a base length of 220m and a height of 105m. With a volume of nearly 1.7 million cubic meters, only the pyramids of his son Khufu and grandson Khafre at Giza are larger. Like those pyramids it was also constructed using horizontal stone courses to reduce structural stresses. Evidence suggests that the entire pyramid complex was never actually completed although there is general agreement that Snefru was buried here.
This composite photograph was taken from the northwest corner. The apparent bending of the northeast edge of the pyramid is a compositing artifact. If you look closely you can get a sense of scale from the people standing outside the pyramid's entrance.
View of the north face of the Red Pyramid showing the modern stairway to the entrance.	This late afternoon view from the vicinity of the Bent Pyramid clearly shows why this is commonly called the Red Pyramid
Detail view of the Red Pyramid looking east from near the entrance. The Nile Valley is clearly visible in the near distance, as is the pyramid's "gentle" 43° slope.	View down the entrance passage of the Red Pyramid. The shaft is roughly 1 meter square and is 63 meters long, descending to ground level within the pyramid. It leads to three chambers with corbelled ceilings built within the pyramid structure. Unfortunately, it was too dark inside for good photographs as I had no tripod with me. Perhaps in time I will post my video of the interior here.

The Bent Pyramid of Snefru

The South, or "Bent," pyramid was the second built by Snefru. It is thought that this is the first pyramid ever designed and constructed as a true pyramid from the start. There is general agreement that the pyramid took on its current form due to attempts to cope with subsidence and structural stresses. In particular, the slope probably was changed from 54° (about that of the Great Pyramid) to 44° (about that of the Red Pyramid) to reduce stress on the inward-sloping stone courses of the lower structure. The change in slope resulted in a 30% reduction in the mass of the upper portion of the pyramid. The construction of the Red Pyramid, however, clearly indicates that, in the end, these measures were not considered adequate. The pyramid's base was originally 188 m square and it had a height of 105 m, giving it a volume of 1.42 million cubic meters. Had the original design been completed the pyramid would have been 129 m high and would have had a volume of 1.53 cubic meters.

The view from the northwest corner. This is the largest pyramid with much of its casing stone still intact.

Detail of the northeast corner of the pyramid, showing how the casing stone was removed working up and out from the corners.

Stela depicting Snefru found at the Bent Pyramid - now in the Egyptian Museum courtyard in Cairo. Unlike the Red Pyramid, the pyramid complex at the Bent Pyramid was completed. Therefore, although Snefru was probably buried in the Red, his cult probably centered at the Bent.

This composite image shows a detailed view of the north face. The effects of weathering and pollution on the white Turah limestone casing are clearly visible.