Pyramids of Dahshur

The Pyramids of Dahshur lie about 1.25mi/2km from the south side of the Saqqara necropolis and the Mastaba el-Faraun. Scattered over an area some 2mi/3km long by 1mi/1.5km across on the edge of the desert are five pyramids and the remains of subsidiary tombs and temples.

Two large and prominently situated pyramids built of limestone rear up on the desert plateau at some distance from the Nile Valley, and near the edge of the desert stand two pyramids built of black bricks made from Nile mud (El-Ahram el-Sud, the "Black Pyramids") and a smaller stone-built pyramid with a brick core, now much weathered. The two large stone pyramids are believed to have been built by Snerferu (Snofru; fourth Dynasty), the other three by various kings