The Bent Pyramid at Dahshur was built under the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu. It was one of the major experiments in the Fourth Dynasty king’s effort to develop the smooth-sided pyramid form.
Construction began with steeply angled sides, but the upper section changes angle, creating the pyramid’s distinctive “bent” profile. The alteration probably reduced structural stress after builders encountered instability, although the exact reason remains debated. Sneferu later commissioned the nearby Red Pyramid, generally regarded as Egypt’s first successful true pyramid.
The Bent Pyramid was not built by Menkaure, Khafre, or Khufu, the rulers associated with the famous Giza pyramids. Sneferu was Khufu’s father and established the architectural tradition that made the Great Pyramid possible. The monument also retains much of its outer limestone casing, making it unusually valuable for understanding how ancient Egyptian pyramids originally looked.