Dahshur
The archeological site of Dahshur was situated at about 11 km. to the south of
Saqqara along a paved road. Dahshur contained three pyramids, back dating to the
Middle Kingdom (XIIth dynasty). They were built by Amenemhat II, Senusret III
and Amenemhat III.
These pyramids were situated in the eastern position of this area in a line
running from north to south. Nevertheless the truly interesting aspect
concerning the site is related to the two pyramids built by Sneferu, the founder
of the IVth dynasty "The Red Pyramid and the Bent Pyramid".
Sneferu
King Sneferu was the founder of a new royal dynasty, and his right to the throne
was accentuated throughout his marriage to a royal heiress "The famous
queen Hetepheres". Sneferu's predecessor was considered to be king Huni,
yet, all what was certainly known was that Sneferu followed Huni to the throne,
and he may have been related to the previous royal house. The palerms stone's
records informed us about his activities and the temples found through the land.
As a matter of fact, this stone recorded how he sent large ships to the coast of
Lebanon to bring cedar. generally speaking, Sneferu was famous because of
expedition sent southwards to restore order in this countries. His name was
recorded on the mines of Sinai and this indicated the fact he has promoted
mining in this region.
Finally, we have to say how far his memory lasted for many centuries among the
Egyptians and how he was always remembered as being beloved, kind and beneficent
king.
Introduction
this pyramid appeared to be older than the northern one. This pyramid was the
first one to be designed as a true pyramid, not as having a step structure. As a
matter of fact this project was grandiose, and of it had been carried out
according to the plans, the pyramid accordingly would have been the largest in
Egypt. The Bent pyramid was constructed from local limestone and was cased with
fine white limestone and the casing was laid inward. Moreover, externally it was
the best preserved of all the surviving pyramids, because none of the other
pyramids has retained so much of its outer casing from Tura limestone. Generally
speaking, the technique employed in building such casing may be one of the
causes, which contributed in its preservation. The stones were not loud in flat
courses, but in inclined 188.6 meters square and to a height of 101.15 meters
with an angle of slope 54 31 30 to a height of 49.01m. and at then changed to 43
21.
This pyramid has acquired various names for instance, it was called the
"Bent", "False", "Rhomboidal" and the
"blunted" pyramid.
As a matter of fact, scholars have offered several explanations to account for
the change of the angle. For example, some scholars felt that if the builders
had retained the original angle, consequently, the great weights of the masonry
would have crushed the ceiling of the interior rooms and corridor. it is true
that this showed cracks, which were repaired with plaster during ancient times,
or that the pyramid had been finished in a hurry and that its height had
accordingly been reduced. In order to confirm this view, Y.S. Perring-who has
examined the composition of the superstructure in 1837-observed how the stones
in the upper part were laid with less case than those below. Finally, the name
of this pyramid was "hcj Snfrw rsy", "Sneferu is shining in the
south."
The plan of the pyramid
The Bent Pyramid was a unique one. It has two separate entrances. An aperture
was found approximately on the middle northern face in order to give access to a
narrow low-roofed corridor, which descended at a steep gradient, firstly through
the core of the pyramid and then through the subterranean rock. The height of
the corridor was 79.53 and its height was at a distance of 275 feet from the
entrance. The corridor became leveled, where a corbelled roof suddenly rose to a
height of nearly 41 feet and a kind of lofty, narrow vestibule was formed.
Immediately beyond it lay the lower one of the two chambers the lower chamber
was built in an open pit cut the rock (25m. under ground level) in limestone
with a corbelled roof on all four sides (4.92 6.25 24.4 m ht at the top).
Moreover, a door was located in the chamber, which lay in an opposite position
of the entrance, leading throughout a short passage to a blind shaft running
upwards (12.5m.). Furthermore, an opening situated at the top of the corbelled
roof led to the entrance corridor of the other chamber throughout an irregular
tunnel.
The other chamber could be reached throughout a slopping passage with an angle
of 26 36 and it has higher opening on the western face with an entrance, which
was carefully concealed, and it was continued with a short horizontal corridor
then to be blocked by two portcullisses sliding side ways on an incline. The
first one have been put into position to block the corridor.
The opening of the irregular tunnel lay in between the two portcullisses coming
from the lower chamber. The chamber situated at the end of the northern passage
was built at a ground level on the masonry with a corbelled roof (6.55 41m., 16
ht. at the top). The upper chamber was not built above the one, which was
connected with the northern entrance, but it lay to the south east. It has also
a corbelled roof, and its floor was built up till a height of several feet by
layers of small stone blocks. However, access of the upper chamber could not be
gained nowadays, because the corridor remained since the burial partly blocked
by stones. Its entrance is still sealed with the outer casing of the pyramid and
the only means of approaching it is through hewn passage running from a hole in
the southern side of the roof of the lower chamber to a point in the horizontal
section of the upper corridor.
Introduction
This pyramid was commonly known as the Red Pyramid, because the colour of
limestone used in its construction was red. its sides have an angle of 43 22 ,
which corresponded exactly to that of the summit of the Bent Pyramid,
accordingly this indicated the fact that architects required to take into
consideration previous experience, through employing a plan which is less
grandiose, but is considered certainly to be safer. However, in any case the Red
Pyramid with the length of its sides, 220m. was considered to be second in size,
when compared only to that of Cheops. This pyramid originally was covered with
slabs of white Tura limestone. Its height was 99m., and it was called "hcj
Snfrw", "Sneferu is shining".
The plan
We could approach its substructure throughout a sloping corridor opening on the
northern side of the pyramid, changing to a short horizontal passage before
reaching the first room and the neighbouring second room. Moreover, both rooms
have the same dimensions (8.3 3.6m. and 12.3m. ht. at the top), and they were
directed N-S at rock level and they have a corbelled roof. The second was placed
directly under the apex of the pyramid, and the third chamber (burial chamber)
would be reached through a short passage opening out of the southern wall of the
middle chamber at height of about 25 feet above the floor. As a matter of fact,
this room was the largest among the three. Its measure was 13 feet from north to
south and 31 feet from east to the west. Its corbelled roof rose to a height of
50 feet.
Language: Aspects of writing | Linguistic Features | Hieroglyphs etc.Gods
Gods: Isis | Ra | Set | Osiris | Qebhsennef | Maat
Pyramids: Building stones | Egypt Land of the pyramids | Canstruction of Pyramids | Huni's Pyramid | Zoser's step Pyramid | Sneferu's Pyramid | The solar Boat | The grest pyeamid of cheops | Chephren's pyramid | Senusert I's pyramid | Sphinx
Paint: Introduction | Subjects of paint scenes
sports: Introduction | Chariots-training horses | Running | Combating sports | Aquatic sports | Competition | Games and toys | Acrobtics
jewellery: Introduction | Gold | Silver | The precious & semi-precious Stones | The substitutes of precious stones | Same kinds of jewellery | Discoveries of jewellery
Sculpture: Introduction | Old kingdom statues | Middle kingdom statues | New kingdom statues