3 lesser-known Egyptian pyramids
Ancient Egypt had many more pyramids than those at Giza. The lesser known pyramids of Step, Bent and Red still stand today, but what is their significance?
Image: The Bent Pyramid in Dahshur, Egypt / stock.adobe.com
How many pyramids are there in Egypt? You could be easily excused for thinking just three. In this instance, you would likely be picturing the Giza complex where the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and the Great Pyramid stand.
However, Egypt is home to many lesser-known pyramids, too. In Ancient Egypt, pyramids tended to be built as tombs for kings and their consorts.
The first Egyptian pyramid ever built is thought to be the Pyramid of Djoser (or, as it has otherwise been dubbed, the ‘Step Pyramid’). Notable (and visually distinctive) pyramids that followed it include the ‘Bent Pyramid’ and ‘Red Pyramid’.
So, where exactly are Step, Bent and Red? What makes them significant? When were they built, and why has their fame faded since? Sky HISTORY has all the answers in this in-depth rundown of the lesser-known pyramids.
Lesser known pyramids with major influence
In total, how many ancient pyramids still remain in Egypt? 'I don’t think it’s an answerable question,' Ann Macy Roth, a New York University art history professor, told the Live Science website in 2024.
Scholars disagree about what should technically count as a pyramid. Nestled alongside the main pyramids at Giza are several smaller secondary or subsidiary pyramids.
However, the term ‘true pyramid’ is used for pyramids with smooth angle sides. The Great Pyramid of Giza is an archetypal example of a ‘true pyramid’. Indeed, it took some time for the Egyptians to ‘perfect the recipe’ (so to say) for building a pyramid. Lessons were learned from the following lesser-known pyramids…
1. Step
It’s not hard to see how the Step Pyramid got this nickname. This structure in Saqqara, south of Cairo, does resemble a flight of steps — or, for that matter, a multi-tiered wedding cake.
The known history of pyramids begins with Step, which was built in the 27th century BC. The six steps, or tiers in this instance, are actually mastabas (tombs) placed on top of each other.
There are good reasons why Step looks awe-inspiring in photos. It was built for the Egyptian king Djoser — and, at 204 feet tall, was the highest structure of its time.
Why has Step largely escaped public notice? One likely reason is that, starting in 2006, it went through a lengthy period of renovations lasting 14 years! Unfortunately, the Djoser pyramid was reopened in March 2020, just as the emerging COVID-19 pandemic was throwing travel plans into disarray.
2. Bent
Now we head further south, to Dahshur. This complex is home to Bent and Red — two pyramids built at the behest of the Fourth Dynasty’s first king. This monarch, Sneferu, is thought to have reigned from 2613 to 2589 BC.
Bent is so-called as it has a noticeable bend where its upward angle shifts from 54 degrees to a shallower 43 degrees. However, if you’ve ever explored the inside of the Bent Pyramid, it’s likely to have only been within the last few years.
When Egypt reopened Bent to the public in 2019, it was the first time in more than half a century. In the intervening time, much renovation work took place — including repairs in the corridors and chambers of this 101-metre-high structure.
Bent looks like an early attempt to create a ‘true pyramid’ with a smooth, consistent angle. Of course, Sneferu didn’t quite achieve this.
As for why, archaeologist Mostafa Waziri has an explanation. At the time of Bent’s reopening to the public, he told Reuters that architects changed the angle after cracks started forming in the unfinished pyramid.
3. Red
If Bent was a failed attempt at creating a ‘true pyramid’, Sneferu finally got it right with the Red Pyramid. He was the first Egyptian monarch to get it right, too. Hence, Red (which slopes at a consistent 43 degrees) is considered a milestone even just within the history of lesser-known pyramids in Egypt.
The Red Pyramid’s name comes from the reddish hue of its limestone. This wouldn’t actually have been visible when builders originally signed off on the pyramid’s construction. At that point, the structure would have been encased in white limestone, only some of which is still attached. Red — like Bent — was closed for some time but has since been reopened to the public.
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