The Red Pyramid of Dahshur, Cairo

After the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, the Red Pyramid at Dahshur boasts the second-largest base in Egypt, nearly matching Khufu's pyramid in size, with each side measuring 722 feet. It ranks as the fourth tallest pyramid ever constructed in Egypt, comprising almost 160 layers of stone. Notably, the Red Pyramid marked the initial triumph of constructing cased pyramids in Egypt, marking the advent of the Giza-style pyramids. Built by Snefru, Khufu's father, what sets this pyramid apart today is its tranquility and unrestricted access, in contrast to the bustling Giza Plateau.

The name "Red Pyramid" originates from the reddish limestone predominantly used for its core, though it is occasionally referred to as the Shining or Northern Pyramid. Learning from past errors, the builders employed several layers of fine white limestone for the foundation, effectively addressing structural issues that plagued earlier pyramids. Tura limestone was used as casing stone to encase the pyramid, although most of it has been removed, revealing inscriptions on the back sides of roughly every twentieth casing stone. Some featured the cartouche of Snefru, while others displayed inscriptions in red paint identifying various work crews, such as the "Green Gang" or the "Western Gang." The discovery of Snefru's cartouche was particularly significant, given the absence of identifying inscriptions inside the pyramid.

Similar to most Egyptian pyramids, the sole entrance is situated on the northern side, leading to a 206-foot passage that descends at a 27-degree angle into the first chamber. This chamber exhibits a corbelled (step) ceiling soaring to about 40 feet in height. Remarkably, all three chambers within this pyramid feature corbelled ceilings constructed with between eleven and fourteen layers. Despite the immense weight of approximately two million tons of stone above them, these ceilings remain remarkably robust, devoid of any cracks or structural issues even to this day.