Pyramid of Sneferu (Bent)
Name of Pyramid:
‘The Southern Shining Pyramid’
Period: 4th Dynasty
Base: 188 metres
Height: 105 metres
Volume: 1 237 040 cubic metres
Slope: 54 deg 27′ 44″ & 43 deg 22′
Status: Entry is included in the 30 L.E. to enter Dashur but chambers are not accessible. The internal chambers were scheduled to open to the public in June but has been postponed until October 2009.
The Bent pyramid is the fourth largest of all the Egyptian pyramids and would have been the largest had all things gone according to plan. This uniquely shaped pyamid is considered to be the first attempt at building a true pyramid. When it was still just two thirds of it’s intended height the inclination of the face angle was reduced to just 43 degrees and 22 minutes. This resulted in a reduction of the pyramid’s height by about 23.5 metres.
Borchardt suggested that this change of angle was an unplanned feature and was done to complete the contruction sooner than planned due to the unexpected death of Sneferu. Others have proposed that the decision to reduce the angle resulted from observations of signs of collapse in the vaults of the inner chambers.
Satellite pyramid
Located on the south of the Bent pyramid, the satellite pyramid was originally 26 metres in hight but is now less than 20 metres high. It once had a small sanctuary on it’s eastern face which is thought to have served the same purpose as the ’south tomb’ of the Djoser complex.
