Note: All data taken from books/articles written by John Romer & Toby Wilkerson -
Hope I got it right
Saqqarah:
Djoser (2675 – 2650 BC)
Step Pyramid
This little over 200-foot structure garners three World’s First awards:
1st Pyramid built in Egypt
1st Stone Block Structure built in Egypt
1st Stone Block Structure built on Planet Earth
Prior to the reign of Djoser Egypt built all structures with Sun-Dried Mud Brick. After Djoser’s Step Pyramid Egypt built in Stone!
However, the Egyptians had been carving in both hard & soft stone for over a thousand years prior
Please note that all the limestone blocks used in the construction of the Step Pyramid are about the same size as Mud Bricks.
Also noted: The Egyptian Sun is more than just warm – It really Burns!
Dahshur:
Sneferu (2575-2465 BC)
Bent Pyramid
Not what I would call a pleasing-looking 344-foot-high geometric shape. A trial & error learning process in how to build a pyramid. I like Jonn Romer's take on this structure – It had two names: First: The Failed Pyramid. Then the Bent Pyramid.
The foundation is on an old soft Nile Riverbed – The original angle of the pyramid was such that too much weight was distributed in too small of an area which caused the structure to subside, twist, and then start to fall apart– The Egyptians declared it a failure – Stopped construction & walked away & constructed the Red Pyramid on a much firmer foundation (actually dug coring’s to locate bedrock) – After completing the Red Pyramid they returned to their failed structure & fixed it into its present bent configuration.
Current Issues: What is termed Thermal Movement – Outside casing heating up at a different rate than basic
Great images. Thanks for providing context.
Bridges
Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA
Interesting how the smooth coat has worn almost totally away on some pyramids. It makes the area where just the stones show look pixelated! Nice shots, it looks like you had a really great day for the visit.
Striking photographs! Congratulations. I hope you get to visit the Red Pyramid. To my mind it is the first "proper" pyramid and is beautiful. The builders of the "Bent Pyramid" evidently learned from their experiment, because the angle of the Red Pyramid follows the corrected angle of the Bent Pyramid. Keep your pictures coming!
Really nice images of these wonders of ancient man’s labor.
Some of you math whizzes on here calculate how tall the Bent pyramid would be if it wasn’t bent.
Stan
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
Well done compositions, and interesting subjects!
Wonderful set and pictures.
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