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Dahshur is a royal necropolis located in the desert on the western bank of the Nile, about 40 kilometres south of Cairo. Snefru, the founder of Egypt’s 4th dynasty, was the first king to build a pyramid in Dahshur after his unsuccessful attempt in Meidum. The Dahshur pyramids provided archaeologists with information about the transition of the pyramid’s form from step-sided to smooth-sided. The reason for choosing Dahshur by Snefru is still unknown.
Bent Pyramid
The Bent Pyramid is the second built by Snefru. It was planned from the beginning to be a true pyramid with a slope of 60°. The pyramid was designed to cover a smaller area, but the design changed due to critical construction issues. These issues were solved by adding coatings to the pyramid's four sides to increase the base length.
Red Pyramid
The Red Pyramid, also known as the North Pyramid, is the largest of the Dahshur Necropolis and the third built by Snefru. It is considered the first true pyramid in history. It is also considered the third-largest pyramid in Egypt after those of Khufu and Khafre. The pyramid was named "The Red Pyramid" because the red colour of its limestone was revealed after stripping the outer casing made of white limestone. The Red pyramid has a base length of 219 metres and a height of 104 meters.