Introduction
Located about 40 kilometers south of Cairo, Dahshur is a lesser-known, but highly significant, ancient Egyptian necropolis that houses some of Egypt’s most remarkable pyramids. The Dahshur necropolis is part of the larger Memphis necropolis, which is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
Dahshur stands out from other Egyptian necropolises due to its unique collection of pyramids, particularly the Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid. These structures offer a glimpse into the architectural evolution that led to the construction of the famous Pyramids of Giza.
Architectural Evolution: From Steps to Smooth Sides
The pyramids at Dahshur represent a significant transition in pyramid construction techniques, marking the move from the step-sided pyramids of the Third Dynasty, exemplified by Djoser’s Step Pyramid at Saqqara, to the smooth-sided pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty and beyond.
The Bent Pyramid, built by the Pharaoh Sneferu (2613–2589 BC), is the most distinctive structure at Dahshur. The pyramid’s unusual shape, with its lower half built at a steep 54-degree inclination and the upper half at a shallower 43-degree angle, gives it the appearance of being “bent.” This shift in angle is thought to be due to structural issues that arose during its construction. The Bent Pyramid is also unique because it retains much of its original limestone casing, giving us a clear idea of how these structures would have originally looked.
Just to the north of the Bent Pyramid is the Red Pyramid, also built by Sneferu. The Red Pyramid is Egypt’s third-largest pyramid, after Khufu’s Great Pyramid and Khafre’s Pyramid at Giza. Its name comes from the reddish hue of its limestone blocks. The Red Pyramid is significant because it is the earliest successful attempt at building a true smooth-sided pyramid. The lessons learned during the construction of the Bent Pyramid were clearly put into practice here, with the pyramid’s sides built at a consistent angle of 43 degrees from base to apex.
Burial Chambers and Associated Structures
Inside the Red Pyramid, a short descending passage leads to three burial chambers, each one higher than the last. The chambers are corbelled, meaning that each successive layer of stone projects slightly inward from the one below, creating a kind of stepped, inverted pyramid within the pyramid. This was an innovative architectural feature for the time.
The Bent Pyramid is unique for having two separate entrances, one on the north face and another on the west face, leading to two separate internal structures. The west entrance leads to a complicated system of corridors and chambers, while the north entrance leads to a single, corbelled burial chamber.
Like many other Egyptian pyramids, both the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid were once surrounded by a complex of associated structures, including mortuary temples, smaller subsidiary pyramids, and enclosure walls. However, most of these features have been lost to time and are known only through archaeological investigations.
Conclusion
While they may not be as famous as the Pyramids of Giza, the pyramids at Dahshur offer a unique perspective into the architectural evolution of pyramid building. They demonstrate the ingenuity and adaptability of ancient Egyptian builders, who adjusted their designs and techniques in response to the challenges they faced. These structures stand as a testament to the architectural prowess of ancient Egypt, and their significance to our understanding of this remarkable civilization cannot be overstated. Despite being lesser-known, the Dahshur pyramids continue to captivate historians, archaeologists, and tourists alike.