Rising from the Dahshur necropolis, roughly 40 kilometers south of Cairo, the Bent Pyramid stands as a monumental record of ancient Egyptian architectural trial. Commissioned by Pharaoh Sneferu around 2600 BCE, its most striking feature is immediately visible: the structure's slope dramatically shifts approximately halfway up. The lower section ascends at a steep 54-degree angle, while the upper portion continues at a significantly shallower 43 degrees, creating its distinctive bent silhouette. This unique form represents a pivotal moment in pyramid evolution, marking the critical transition from the earlier step pyramids to the smooth-sided design perfected later at Giza. Archaeologists widely interpret the mid-construction angle change as a practical solution to structural instability concerns, a lesson applied immediately in the adjacent, successfully completed Red Pyramid built at the consistent 43-degree angle.
Remarkably, the Bent Pyramid retains a significant portion of its original, polished Tura limestone outer casing – a rarity among Egypt's approximately 118 known pyramids, where most casings were stripped over millennia. This exceptional preservation is attributed by engineers like Peter James to subtle, unintentional design features: slightly larger gaps between the casing stones acted as natural expansion joints, accommodating temperature fluctuations and preventing the catastrophic blow-off seen at other sites. The pyramid complex extends beyond the main structure, featuring a smaller satellite pyramid, likely built for Sneferu's wife, Queen Hetepheres, and the remnants of a unique valley temple characterized by bevelled edges and decorated pillars.
A significant development for modern explorers occurred in 2019 when Egypt reopened the Bent Pyramid's interior for the first time in over fifty years. Visitors can now venture through a narrow, 79-meter tunnel from the northern entrance to access two chambers dating back over 4,600 years. Simultaneously, the adjacent satellite pyramid also became accessible to the public, offering a rare glimpse into the supporting structures of a pharaoh's eternal complex. This access allows travelers to step directly into the physical evidence of Sneferu's ambitious, albeit initially uncertain, quest to perfect the monumental pyramid form.
Visited here with my mother in Jan 2024. The Bent Pyramid is an ancient Egyptian pyramid located at the royal necropolis of Dahshur, approximately 40 kilometres south of Cairo. It is worth a visit as it's not as busy as Giza. The 4,600-year-old pyramid. Unlike other pyramids, which have a smooth, uniform slope, the Bent Pyramid has a distinctive bend in its sides about halfway up its height. A must visit pyramids in Egypt!👋👋😭
M. F. Sharkawy
5
Reviewed: 2024-07-11
Amazing experience, make sure to have enough water and be prepared for the heat and sun if you'll visit in summer.
There are 3 other pyramids as well in the same area.
Juli W.
5
Reviewed: 2024-03-19
After seeing the pyramids in Giza, we were glad to get out of the tourist crowds and find these amazing pyramids. It is amazingly well preserved from the outside and very impressive. The entrance fees are considerably lower than in Giza and instead of a narrow, stuffy corridor with hundreds of people like in Giza, you get a little adventure. In addition to various narrow corridors that lead both up and down, you climb up a wooden scaffold, crawl through a narrow stone tunnel and then emerge quite high up in the pyramid in a larger chamber with lots of bats (don't worry, they won't be disturbed by tourists and won't attack you either). All in all, a very pleasant and exciting place.
Dimitar Petrov
5
Reviewed: 2024-01-23
Absolutely worth the trip - if in Cairo, do visit the Saqqara plateau with the amazing sights there. Much less touristy than Giza with some amazingly preserved sights and few pyramids surrounded by breathtaking desert. Definitely worth the trip! Easily reachable from Cairo (45 mins to 1h).
Amr Hanafi
5
Reviewed: 2024-01-09
The Bent Pyramid of Giza, located approximately 40 kilometers south of Cairo, Egypt, is a unique ancient structure built during the Old Kingdom period around 2600 BC for Pharaoh Sneferu. The pyramid is characterized by a distinct change in slope, creating a bent appearance, hence its name. Scholars believe that this architectural adjustment may have been made to address stability concerns during construction. The lower portion has a steeper angle, which was later modified to a shallower angle in the upper section. Despite its unconventional design, the Bent Pyramid holds significance in understanding the evolution of pyramid construction techniques and offers valuable insights into the engineering prowess of ancient Egyptians.
William THC 
M. F. Sharkawy 
Juli W. 
Dimitar Petrov 
Amr Hanafi 
