Dahshur

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Dahshur

Snofru's Bent Pyramid

Snofru's Red Pyramid

Dahshur (Arabic دهشور Dahšūr [often incorrectly rendered in English as Dashur]), located in a patch of desert on the west bank of the Nile approximately 40 kilometres south of Cairo (29.80° N 31.24° E), is a royal necropolis, known chiefly for several pyramids, two of which are amongst the oldest, largest and best preserved in Egypt.

The Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid were constructed during the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu of the Old Kingdom, father of Khufu. The unusual shape of the Bent Pyramid is unique, and represents a transitional pyramid form believed to have been necessitated by an engineering crisis encountered during its construction, while the Red Pyramid is the world's first "true", or smooth-sided pyramid.

The pyramid of the 12th Dynasty king Amenemhat II is now badly damaged, but next to it were found several undisturbed tombs of royal ladies, still containing a great deal of jewellery. The pyramid of Sesostris III was part of a huge complex with several smaller pyramids of royal women and a temple south of the pyramid. In a gallery tomb next to the pyramid were found two treasures of 'king's daughters'. The Black Pyramid dates from the later reign of Amenemhat III, and although in a highly eroded condition is still the most imposing monument at the site after the two Sneferu pyramids. The polished granite pyramidion or capstone of the Black Pyramid is on display in the main hall of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Next to the pyramid was found the partly disturbed tomb of 13th Dynasty king Hor and next to it the undisturbed burial of his possible daughter Nubhetepti-khered.

There are several other pyramids of the 13th Dynasty at Dahshur, only the one of Ameny Qemau is so far excavated.

Extensive cemeteries of officials of the Old and Middle Kingdom have been found around all Dahshur's pyramids. Dahshur was Egypt's royal necropolis during the reign of the 12th Dynasty king Amenemhat II.