Dahshur - Northern Stone Pyramid

Southwest of the Black Pyramid stands the imposing bulk of the Northern Stone Pyramid or Red Pyramid, so called from the reddish tint of the horizontally coursed limestone blocks of which it is constructed; it is possible to climb to the top. With a base measurement of 700ft/213m and a height of 332ft/101.15m (angle of incline 43° 40), it is of approximately the same size as the Pyramid of Cheops at Giza. It is thought to have been built by Sneferu, founder of the fourth Dynasty and father of Cheops, who reigned gloriously for 24 years and conducted victorious wars in Libya and Nubia.

The Red Pyramid is the oldest royal tomb in pure pyramid form, providing a model followed in later royal burials. From the entrance to the pyramid, at a height of 92ft/28m on the north side, a shaft leads down to three chambers in the heart of the structure, the third of which (30ft/9.30m long, 15ft/4.550m wide, 50ft/15m high) was the tomb chamber, although Sneferu was not in fact buried here.