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Red Pyramid
Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid or the Dahshur Necropolis, south of Cairo, Egypt can be classified as one of the most important and significant architecture of ancient Egypt. This pyramid was constructed during the reign of pharaoh Sneferu who ruled in 2600 BCE and it was an improvement of pyramid construction. The Red Pyramid is the initial building in Egypt that is viewed as a genuine pyramid and in shape much like the Great Pyramid of Giza.

What does a red pyramid have to do with it?

The Red Pyramid, which majority of the people know as the Great Pyramid of Giza has a sovereign position when it comes to Egyptian architecture. It was constructed by Pharaoh Sneferu and indicates a change of directions in terms of pyramid design because it was built as a well-proven and stable form of royal tomb to house an Egyptian pharaoh. 

The smooth slopes of the Red Pyramid are sun rays so deeply present in the ancient Egyptian religion which proves architecture and religion were intrinsically bound.

The History of the Red Pyramid

The Red Pyramid was constructed by King Sneferu of the Old Kingdom in the early Old Kingdom, which is the Fourth Dynasty. It was during this period that there were incredible advancements in the pyramid construction in Egypt with the Red Pyramid being the last in the line of earth-shattering pyramid building. The Sneferu experimentation with the proposal pyramid started with the Bent Pyramid, a trim phase towards the successful Red Pyramid despite the best efforts, it was flawed.

Red Pyramid Map

Unique Architecture and Design 

The Red Pyramid added to the evolution in Egyptian architecture. A consistent inclination characterizes the Red Pyramid as the first actual pyramid in Egypt as opposed to the Bent Pyramid that had architectural problems as well as a skewed inclination. The sides make attendant angles of 43 degrees commemorating the rays of Ra. This style affected the great pyramid of Giza.

Due to red limestone that was utilized in construction, the pyramid is red. The smooth white limestone casing of the pyramid was taken off in order to expose the red stone. The Red Pyramid is approximately 105 meters tall and its base is equally 220 meters square on each side hence making it one of the largest pyramids in Egyptian earth.

The Religious significance of Red Pyramid

To ancient Egyptian culture, the construction of the pyramid was not only a building process; there was also a bigger religious and cultural belief system that aimed at the safe transition of the Pharaoh into the afterlife. The Red Pyramid was constructed to house the over-mummified cadaver of an Egyptian king ( Pharaoh Sneferu ) and also to help him ascend to the divine world. The nice sides of the pyramid were interpreted as rays of the sun; they allowed the Pharaoh to rise to the heavens and become a part of the gods.

This formed a core part of the Egyptian burial practice.The interior of the pyramid was to comprise a burial chamber that was to hold the embalmed remains of the Pharaoh and funereal present there. The Red Pyramid exemplifies the transforming funerary architecture of ancient Egyptians and is an insight to how religious beliefs changed and led to the evolving act of tomb building.

 

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Day tour to 
Memphis, Saqqara & Dahshur 
from cairo
Al Rafi Mosque
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

The Future of Pyramid Building

The Red Pyramid links the unsteady Bent Pyramid with the more perfect pyramids of Giza. It illustrates building and architectural capability of the ancient Egyptian. Its smooth sides and inner channels were the foundation of the following pyramid constructions that will represent the ancient Egyptian power and magnificence.

A New Pyramid Building Era

The Red Pyramid is a step in between the Bent Pyramid with unstable angles and other more perfected pyramids at Giza. It is regarded as the first pyramid to produce a stable and functional schema as the ancient Egyptian people were maturing in terms of engineering principles.

It has been built as a perfect illustration of architectural skills of Egyptian people of the past. It has a less complex layout in comparison with the later pyramids, but its smooth outer sides and internal passages served as a precedent to the design of further pyramids that would become a symbol of power and grandeur of ancient Egypt.

Red Pyramid long passage

Conservation of the red pyramid

Precautions to save the Red Pyramid and environs started long ago. The pyramid, along with the other monuments on the Dahshur Necropolis, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning it is preserved over time thus keeping it alive till a later date. People remain to investigate the architecture, composition, and materials of the pyramid to understand how it happened to assemble monuments with a great extent without complex tools and technologies that can be hosted nowadays.

Conclusion: 

The Red Pyramid is not only an architectural masterpiece, but it also has the reflection of the Egyptian architectural creation. It is a turning point in the fashioning of pyramid design, going beyond the experimental form to more enduring designs, which would be typical of the ancient Egyptian era. It was the first actual pyramid and set the path to later and more well-known pyramids such as the great pyramid of Giza.