The Bent Pyramid of Sneferu at Dahshur

The Bent Pyramid of Sneferu (Snefru), located at the royal necropolis of Dahshur, approximately 40 kilometres south of Cairo, of Old Kingdom Pharaoh Sneferu, is a unique example of early pyramid development in Egypt. This was the second pyramid built by Sneferu.

The lower part of the bent pyramid rises from the desert at a 55 degree inclination, but the top section is built at the shallower angle of 43 degrees, lending the pyramid its very obvious "bent" appearance.

Archaeologists now believe that Sneferu's Bent Pyramid represents a transitional form between step-sided and smooth-sided pyramids. It has been suggested that due to the steepness of the original angle of inclination the structure may have begun to show signs of instability during construction, forcing the builders to adopt a shallower angle to avert the structure's collapse. This theory appears to be borne out by the fact that the adjacent Red Pyramid, built immediately afterwards by the same Pharaoh, was constructed at an angle of 43 degrees from its base.

The Bent Pyramid has a small satellite pyramid of unknown purpose immediately to its south, and an early form of mortuary offering temple on its eastern side. It is also unique amongst the approximately ninety pyramids to be found in Egypt, in that its original polished limestone outer casing remains largely intact.

The ancient formal name of the Bent Pyramid is generally translated as, (The) Southern Shining Pyramid, or Sneferu (is) Shining in the South.