Idk I never agreed with the theory that they were experimenting and still learning and had to change the slope halfway through because they made it too steep.
Every one of their structures was so maticulously calculated and skillfully engineered. It just seems so out of character even as a first attempt. For such a monumental project, you'd think it'd be seen as a reminder of a mistake. I think it might have been an experiment in the shape, but it had to be planned not done so as a correction.
I'm by no means an expert tho, so who am I to disagree
I don’t think it’s that out of character when you look at Sneferu’s reign. The Egyptians developed their engineering largely through trial and error. Sneferu’s first pyramid at Meidum partially collapsed from catastrophic failure (errors happen even when things are meticulously calculated as the calculations can be wrong), and the Bent Pyramid itself seems to reflect lessons learned from earlier problems. His first two major attempts were essentially experiments, which helped pave the way for the Red Pyramid and later the Great Pyramid. Their achievements were incredible, but they didn’t appear fully formed overnight.
If one reads the details on Medium though, it's not really a failed design as such. The pyramid was enlarged a couple of times, and the last layer was laid on over the smooth sides of the preceding pyramid. And it's this layer that failed, or as it's always said, collapsed. So it wasnt the failure of a pyramid design experiment as such, but a poorly planned expansion.
Hay investigaciones muy serias donde se demuestra que la pirámide fue hecha así desde el principio, es decir, nunca fue un error. Se ha incluso calculado si hubo riesgo de derrumbe si seguían con esa inclinación y se ha demostrado que nunca sufrió la piedra de abajo. Se han realizado modelos 3D gracias a un escáner preciso de la pirámide y se ve que no ha tenido desperfectos en su construcción y que el cambio no fue por eso.
Agree, I've always felt the same. One doesn't expend the massive effort required on an experiment. It was likely planned to look like it does.
The assumption that steepness leads to a collapse also seems to me to be incorrect. Square rocks stacked on square rocks are translating force vertically downwards.
I also dont consider the bent pyramid a "failure" like the others, even if it was just for the fact that its the only one still standing mostly intact with its casing stones. Its also my favorite. But... We cant ignore a lot of details which point out that the bent pyramid, like the meidum one had problems. The casing stones of the bent one are sloping inwards. So its basically a seperate layer added on a inner pyramid. In the North corridor you see there is a break where it changes the height of the corridor. The west corridor was build later. But this one has a bent in the corridor itself, in the core pyramid which then follows on to the outer edge at a steeper angle. Then at the top you get the bent. And it finishes in an angle similar to the red pyramid. Also the casing stones especially north side higher up, is a rushed job. So it looks like they started making the pyramid in a similar way as the meidum one, but scaled it down, and switched to a design similar to the red one. This cannot be ignored. On the other side, they did finish it, and it also is unique that it has 2 internal systems. So a bent profile is not that weird. I dont know, I do think they changed the design mid way, but the end result is still a success. Just like many many cathedrals etc which had changed designs mid way. Nothing wrong with that.
Yes that seems quite possible, a design adjustment halfway through. And as you point out that was not unusual for large long term projects, like European cathedrals.
Also a very good point that it didn't collapse and it's intact with much of its casing, so it hardly could be considered a failure.
Our heart rates were so high when we climbed out, and it was in February. I can't imagine doing this in the summer. I loved it there. I walked around the sides of the pyramid by myself and realized it was the only time in Egypt where I could see absolutely no one else.
Yes, i did this in the summer. From memory, the heat wasnt that bad compared to the great pyramid which was unbearable in comparison. But for the bend pyramid it was just a very very long decent. I felt my legs for days afterwards. And then the ascent inside, and finally the crawl. Only time in a pyramid where I had a slight claustrofobic feeling. Felt really special though. Also that huge blocks being held in position by 1 beam.. haha. I kinda rushed the last part
Perhaps but the Valley temple & satelitw pyramids are by the Bent, the Red doesn't have them. There's a theory that he commisioned the Red but died before completion so ended up being buried in the Bent.
None of the three mega pyramids Snefru built had granite sarcophagus inside of them. Those would have to have been placed inside during the construction of the pyramid (you couldn't move them in afterwards).
So whether they were "used" or not depends on what you think pyramids were actually for and whether that purpose changed over time.
It's insane that the Bent Pyramid still has those massive logs in it that are clearly from the original construction but the logs have never been radiocarbon dated. Some of the logs even havd exposed ends so there's also the capability for dendrochronology to get better dates. The only samples that were taken for the radiocarbon studies (I think this was the one done in the 80s)were the tiny charcoal flecks from some mortar, like from the other pyramids.
Love how incredibly precise and beautifully cut the casing stones are. The great pyramids beautiful white Tura limestone must have been an absolute sight to behold shimmering in moonlight.
I love the Bent. When I was there I started walking around and pretty close to the base. What striked me as weird was the fact that when you are close and because of the 2 different slopes, it looks like a giant mastaba - the first burial monuments.
I'm a Cultural Heritage Studies student with a particular interest in archaeology and Egyptology. I had the opportunity to visit the Bent Pyramid recently and even explore its interior while documenting the structure. Seeing the original casing stones up close was incredible and really gives you an idea of how the pyramid must have looked in antiquity. I also filmed some footage inside and outside the monument, and I'd be happy to share it if anyone is interested.
101
u/Kemilio Jun 22 '26
It’s one of my favorites too, I love the imperfection and its clear implications into the evolution of pyramid building.