Dahshur Archaeological Site

Dahshur contains some of the most important monuments for understanding how Egyptian pyramid building developed. During the Fourth Dynasty, King Sneferu constructed two enormous pyramids here after earlier work at Meidum. The Bent Pyramid preserves a visible change in slope, reflecting the engineering challenges involved in creating a smooth-sided pyramid on a monumental scale. Nearby, the Red Pyramid achieved the true pyramid form successfully and became one of the largest pyramids ever built. Dahshur was also used much later during the Middle Kingdom, when rulers including Senwosret III and Amenemhat III built pyramid complexes in the area. This combination of Old and Middle Kingdom monuments makes the site more than a quieter alternative to Giza: it is a key chapter in the technical and ideological history of Egyptian royal burial.