The Bent Pyramid

ancient Egypt · pyramids · architecture

Dramatic angle change. The Bent Pyramid has sides that suddenly shift angle about halfway up, creating a distinctive bent or kinked appearance. This unusual shape makes it instantly recognizable among all the pyramids in Egypt.

Built by Sneferu. Pharaoh Sneferu ordered the construction of this pyramid as his second tomb out of four he would build during his reign. He was always experimenting with new pyramid designs and sizes.

Still standing strong. The Bent Pyramid is one of the best preserved ancient Egyptian pyramids, with much of its original smooth limestone casing still intact. You can still see the original white stone that once covered all pyramids.

Located at Dahshur. The pyramid sits about 25 miles south of Cairo in a royal cemetery called Dahshur where several pharaohs were buried. It has stood in the same spot for over 4,500 years.

Construction experiment. Architects believe the angle change happened because they changed their building plans while the pyramid was already under construction. This pyramid helped Egyptians learn lessons that led to the perfectly smooth pyramids they built later.