Red Pyramid, Egyptian pyramid in Dahshur, Egypt.
The Red Pyramid is a smooth-sided structure about 105 metres (344 ft) high with a base roughly 220 metres (720 ft) wide. Its four faces meet at a single point, and the lower courses show stepped rows of rough tan and brown limestone blocks. A band of exposed masonry runs near the base, where fallen stone fragments lie on the sandy ground.
Pharaoh Sneferu commissioned the structure around 2590 BCE after earlier attempts with steeper angles led to structural problems. The flatter angle proved stable and became the model for later projects.
Local residents call the Red Pyramid el-heram el-watwaat, the Bat Pyramid. Fragments of a rare pyramidion, or capstone, were found and reconstructed; they are displayed at the Dahshur site, though whether they belonged to this pyramid is uncertain because the reconstruction's angle differs from the pyramid's slope.
The entrance sits on the north side and leads through a downward passage to three connected rooms. The descent spans about 63 meters (207 feet) and requires caution with low ceilings.
The limestone blocks contain iron oxide that gives them a reddish tint. This coloring inspired the current name and sets it apart from other structures in the region.
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