Egypt ‘Bent’ pyramid dating back 4,600 years opens to public

Tourists visiting Egypt can now clamber down the 200-feet tunnel of ancient structure built for King Sneferu in Dahshur, Egypt Tour

Egypt has opened King Sneferu’s 4,600-year-old “bent” pyramid to the public.

The 450-feet high structure, in the Dahshur royal necropolis, just south of Cairo, is one of two built for Sneferu, the pharaoh who founded the Fourth Dynasty.

Dahshur Pyramid, Egypt. Also know as Dahsur. Egypt Tours, Chicago

Tourists will be allowed inside the ancient structure after archaeologists found “hidden tombs” containing mummies, masks and tools.

The pyramid’s appearance is unusual, with the first 180-feet, which have largely kept their smooth limestone casing, built at a steep 54-degree angle before tapering off in the top section.

People can now clamber down a narrow 300-feet tunnel from a raised entrance on the pyramid’s northern face to reach two chambers deep inside the ancient structure.

They will also be able to enter an adjoining 60-feet “side pyramid”, possibly built for Sneferu’s wife Hetepheres, opened for the first time since its excavation in 1956.

As they opened the pyramids to the public on Saturday, archaeologists showed late-period mummies, masks, tools and coffins discovered during excavations that began near the Dahshur pyramids last year.

Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said: “When we were taking those objects out, we found ... A very rich area of hidden tombs.”

The pyramid marked a key step in the evolution of pyramid construction. Its angular shape contrasts with the straight sides of Sneferu’s Red Pyramid just to the north – the first of ancient Egypt’s fully-formed pyramids and the next step towards the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Architects changed the angle when cracks started appearing in the structure, according to Mr. Waziri.

Mohamed Shiha, director of the Dahshur site, said: “Sneferu lived a very long time ... the architects wanted to reach the complete shape, the pyramid shape.