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Why does the Bent Pyramid face a different direction to the other pyramids? |
Travel Info Why does the Bent Pyramid face a different direction to the other pyramids? Travel Tips because when it was built they thought that the high way will be on this direction Others ...because my door is green does it? in relation to what? Snefru built two pyramids at Dahshur. His first was designed from the start as a true pyramid. But the 54 degrees angle proved too steep, and as the pyramid was being built on soft, silty clay, there was a problem with stability and subsidence. This was solved by adjusting the pyramid angle to a flatter 43 degrees, 147ft (45m) up the face. The reduced angle brought increased stability, but led to the pyramid's modern name, the Bent Pyramid. Snefru's second Dahshur pyramid, the Red Pyramid, was a successful true pyramid. It seems that this must have served as the king's eventual resting place. It does not. Its orientation is similar to other pyramids. The only thing which is not similar is that the architect changed the angle of the sides to an acuter angle after building a bit more than half of it. The reason is that the base of the pyramid was not a hard rock like the Giza pyramids but was a sandy. He thought that it was not solid enough and wanted to finish the pyramid more quickly. The King was not happy with the shape and ordered another pyramid. The second pyramid of King Snefro the father of Cheops is in Dahshor about 2 kilometers away from the bent pyramid which was not used foe burial. Snefru's, Bent Pyramid is aligned to a north south location as are the other pyramids.There are however some variants. According to Stradleman,it is to be seen as the beginning of the use of a three chambered module substructure, which is evident in the construction of all later pyramids. So far as the upper structure is concerned its orientation and an entrance from the west recall the south tomb in the Djoser complex at Saqqara. When the pyramid was about forty-five metres high,the angle of inclination was further reduced to forty five degrees. This modification, which had the effect of reducing the volume of material required for the upper-half of the pyramid,was probably made necessary by the danger that the internal chambers would be damaged.So the pyramid assumed its characteristic form. It should be said that according to some schools of thought, the pyramids unusual shape was not the result of experiments and risks involved with static equilibrium. But actually reflects the intended structural intention, which was motivated religiously or politically. According to one hypothesis, the two angles of the pyramid symbolize the unity of Upper and Lower Egypt; in another the nine (including the underside) symbolize the Heliopolitan Great Ennead. The west entrance is located much higher than the western entrance and ends in a corbel burial vault. While the rock facing in the chamber remains in its rough state there is an inscription bearing Snefru's name. However this gives no credence to the theory of Fakhry that Snefru was actually interred in this pyramid But it does give proof that this pyramid was built for Snefru. The small cult pyramid erected at the southern wall contained a corbel- vaulted chamber that may have been the model for the Great Gallery in Khufu's pyramid at Giza. It is interesting that the mortuary cult of Snefru lasted well into the Middle Kingdom and the rituals were carried out at the Bent pyramid rather than at the Red Pyramid which was also built for Snefru but not finished at the time of his death. It appears from recent findings that Snefru may have constructed another pyramid in Seila. Which has raised the questions why did he build not one but several pyramids,in what order were they built and in which was he actually finally laid to rest? This is the magic of Egyptology you often find the answers to one puzzle. Only to find it raises another enigmatic question. Graduate student in Egyptology. |
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