Tours: Sneferu's First Pyramid

Learn about Sneferu's Pyramid at Meidum.
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|-|The Meidum Pyramid=
With the long reign of Sneferu, the first king of the , the most brilliant and creative period began for the construction of funerary monuments in Egypt.
Funerary monument design moved from the step pyramid to the smooth-faced pyramid, testament to the evolution of the practices of construction.
The first attempt at this design was the pyramid of Meidum.
|-|Evolution of the Pyramid=
While Sneferu's monument started as a seven- stepped pyramid, it was later altered into an eight-stepped structure. The final phase of construction saw the steps filled out, and an outer casing applied to achieve a smooth surface.
|-|The Collapse=
The smooth dressing of the walls did not provide sufficient bonding however, and the outer casing did not rest on sound foundations. As a result, the bases of the four outer buttress walls gave way, causing the walls to slide down and collapse.
While the Meidum pyramid was abandoned due to design flaws, it showcased other innovations that would impact all future pyramid designs.
|-|The Cerimonial Pavement=
Às well as the smooth sides, it was the first time a ceremonial pavement was built, Leading from the valley to the temple of the pyramid. Another innovation was that of the funerary chamber, which was no longer at the bottom of a well, but rather above ground level.
This change signaled the beginning of the three-bedroom system.
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Category:Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt