Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid was built for King Sneferu of the Fourth Dynasty and represents a decisive success in the development of smooth-sided pyramid construction. Sneferu’s builders had already experimented at Meidum and at the Bent Pyramid, where the angle changes partway up the monument. At the Red Pyramid they adopted a consistent shallower angle, producing a stable true pyramid on a massive scale. The modern name comes from the reddish color of its exposed limestone core, although the pyramid was originally covered with fine white Tura limestone casing. Visitors can enter through an opening high on the north face and descend a long narrow passage to a sequence of chambers with impressive corbelled roofs. The interior experience is physically demanding but reveals construction techniques that directly precede the great pyramids at Giza. Practical planning: The descending passage is long, steep and confined. Interior access can be strenuous, so allow time and avoid entry if you are uncomfortable in narrow enclosed spaces. Plan roughly 45 to 90 minutes for the visit. The current planning record recommends early morning as a practical time of day. The expected physical effort is high. Heat exposure is recorded as high. The recorded recommended transport mode is car or ride hail.