Dahshur

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The Blunted Pyramid of King Snefru at Dahshur, Egypt.
H. Roger-Viollet

Ancient pyramid site, northern Egypt.

It is located near Memphis on the western bank of the Nile. Two of its pyramids date from the 4th dynasty and were built by Snefru (r. 2575–2551 BC); the smaller is believed to be the first true pyramid. The three remaining pyramids belong to the 12th dynasty (1938–1756 BC). Nearby tombs have yielded a remarkable collection of jewelry and personal accoutrements.

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Dahshur - ancient pyramid site just south of Saqqarah, northern Egypt, on the west bank of the Nile River. Dahshur and other ruins in the area of ancient Memphis-Abu Sir, Saqqarah, Abu Ruwaysh, and the Pyramids of Giza-were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.

Memphis - city and capital of ancient Egypt during the Old Kingdom (c. 2575-c. 2130 BC), located south of the Nile River delta, on the west bank of the river, and about 15 miles (25 km) south of modern Cairo. Closely associated with the ancient city's site are the cemeteries, or necropolises, of Memphis, where the famous pyramids of Egypt are located. From north to south, the main pyramid fields are: Abu ...

Abu Ruwaysh - ancient Egyptian site of a 4th-dynasty (c. 2575-c. 2465 BC) pyramid built by Redjedef, usually considered the third of the seven kings of that dynasty. The site is about 5 miles (8 km) northwest of the Pyramids of Giza (Al-Jizah) on the west bank of the Nile River. It is part of a UNESCO World Heritage site-along with Dahshur, Saqqarah, Abu Sir, Memphis, and the Pyramids of Giza-that was ...

Abu Sir - ancient site between Al-Jizah (Giza) and Saqqarah, northern Egypt, where several 5th-dynasty (c. 2465-c. 2325 BC) kings built their pyramids. The pyramids were poorly constructed (in comparison with Egyptian monuments of similar types) and are now in a state of disrepair. The adjoining mortuary temples are notable for their elaborate sculptured wall reliefs and columns in the forms of palm, ...

Snefru - first king of Egypt of the 4th dynasty (c. 2575-c. 2465 BC). He fostered the evolution of the highly centralized administration that marked the climax of the Old Kingdom.

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