Meidum Pyramid

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CONTENTS

• Collapsed Pyramid
• Why Did Meidum Pyramid Collapse?
• When Did Meidum Pyramid Collapse?
• Who Built the Meidum Pyramid?
• Location
• How High is the Meidum Pyramid?
• Construction
• Excavations
• Other Famous Pyramids
• References

Collapsed Pyramid

The Meidum Pyramid is the first of the Ancient Egyptian pyramids to be built after the Step Pyramid of Djoser, which was the prototype of the series.

It was probably completed around 2600 BC, although experts do not agree on a precise date.

It was initially designed to be significantly taller than the 62 metres of its predecessor, but it suffered a serious collapse some time during the Bronze Age, and is currently 65 metres tall.

Because of its subsidence, the pyramid is called 'el-heram el-kaddaab' – meaning 'false pyramid' in Arabic.

The lessons of Meidum (or Meydum) were rapidly absorbed and Ancient Egyptian architecture soon mastered the art of pyramid construction.

All this happened within the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu (2625–2585 BC), the first king of the Fourth Dynasty, and the father of the Pharaoh Khufu, who later built the Great Pyramid of Giza (2560 BC).

Why Did Meidum Pyramid Collapse?

Answer: because its structure became unstable, due to architectural and engineering miscalculations.

Originally intended as a step pyramid, its construction featured a series of horizontal levels, stacked one on top of another, thus creating a 7-tiered step pyramid.

Like Djoser's structure, the builders included tiers that inclined inwards. In other words, the masonry was not laid vertically but in layers that leaned toward the middle of the pyramid, in order to improve its structural stability.

The trouble arose when they decided to add a further eighth step.

This was built on a sand base, not a rock base. In addition, the limestone blocks were laid horizontally not leaning towards the centre.

These new features seem to have compromised the stability of the pyramid.

Furthermore, a decision was then taken to convert the step pyramid into a smooth-sided pyramid, by filling-in the steps, and to encase the exterior in Tura limestone.

This extra weight may have added to the overall instability of the structure, not least because the in-fill and casing was built at a steep angle, which exerted significant additional pressure.

When Did Meidum Pyramid Collapse?

Answer: some Egyptologists say it collapsed during Sneferu's reign. Others say it didn't collapse until the New Kingdom.

Archaeologists say that the stratigraphy of the mounds of gravel around the pyramid, indicate it was a gradual collapse which probably continued until at least the New Kingdom reign of Ramesses II (1279–1213 BC), or later.

In addition, any partial collapse would have exposed the pyramid core, attracting looters whose efforts would likely have caused further subsidence.

By the time Napoleon's expedition visited the pyramids in 1799, the Meidum Pyramid was down to three steps, as it is today.

Effect on Design of the Bent Pyramid

Although experts do not agree on the date of the pyramid's collapse, evidence indicates that structural failure became apparent quite quickly.

For instance, archaeologists found that a series of large timber beams had been placed inside the pyramid, in order to support its inner chambers. This was not typical.

The likelihood that the Meidum pyramid became visibly unstable during construction, is also supported by the fact that the design of Sneferu's second pyramid - the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur - was radically altered mid-way through construction.

The most important alteration was a reduction in the angle of ascent, from 54 to 43 degrees. This change was almost certainly based on information received from Meidum.

Sneferu later built a third pyramid, also at Dahshur, known as the Red Pyramid (or North Pyramid).

This structure proved to be perfectly stable, and shows how quickly Egyptians builders learned from their mistakes, and mastered megalithic architecture in the process.

Who Built the Meidum Pyramid?

Answer: It was completed by Sneferu, but who started it, remains a mystery.

Some Egyptologists believe it was begun by Pharaoh Huni (r.2637-2625 BC), the final king of the Third Dynasty; others say it was begun by Sneferu. They point out that it was very unusual for rulers during the Old Kingdom to appropriate or finish the tomb of a predecessor; the most they did was to bury and seal it.

They also point out there is no mention of Huni's name at the pyramid. Moreover, documents imply that the nearby residential city and supply centre, was not built until the reign of Sneferu.

The debate is further fuelled by lack of clarity about the length of Sneferu's reign, as he went on to build two other pyramids - the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid (2589-2579 BC).

Some experts state he ruled for 24 years (2613-2589 BC); others believe the counting method is misunderstood, and favour a term of 48 years; still others favour an in-between figure.

We have adopted a middle position of 40 years, spanning the period 2625–2585 BC.

Location

The district of Meidum is located on the west bank of the Nile, roughly 30 kilometres south of Dahshur, the most southerly pyramid field of the Memphite Necropolis.

The archaeological site contains the partially collapsed main pyramid, a small 'cult' pyramid, a small mortuary temple or chapel, and two mastaba tombs.

How High is the Meidum Pyramid?

Answer: scholars estimate it was originally as high as 90 metres (292 feet), far taller than Djoser's Pyramid. In its ruined state, however, it is no more than 65 metres (213 feet) high and all the casing has vanished.

It had a square base which measured 144 metres per side, and a volume of 638,700 cubic metres. Its total weight would have been around 1.3 million tonnes.

Construction

The Meidum Pyramid was built using locally quarried limestone. Granite was also used, while its exterior was clad in super-white Tura limestone casing stones.

The entrance to the pyramid is in the north wall, about 20 metres above ground level. An entrance so high up, is most unusual.

The entrance passageway descends some 17 metres before levelling out just before it reaches a 3-metre vertical shaft, that leads up into the corbelled burial chamber.

The chamber was not actually used for any burial, although why Sneferu abandoned this tomb complex and built the Bent and Red pyramids at Dahshur, remains unclear, especially since several of his close family are interred at Meidum.

The pyramid complex as a whole, contains the following elements:

• The main pyramid. This is aligned north-south, and sits in the middle of a square courtyard surrounded by a high perimeter wall, which measures 236 x 218 metres.
• Near the southwest corner of the courtyard, there is a second, much smaller 'cult' pyramid, now in ruins. It was probably the first of its kind in Ancient Egypt. Inside, archaeologists found fragments of a limestone stele bearing an engraved image of the falcon-headed god Horus.
• Near the northeast corner of the courtyard there is a ruined mastaba tomb, whose intended (or actual occupant) is unknown.
• On the east side of the pyramid, within the courtyard, archaeologists uncovered a mortuary temple. Although built with limestone blocks, it is extremely small, suggesting it was a commemorative chapel rather than a true mortuary temple. Although exceptionally well-preserved, it was left undecorated, which implies it was never used. Two limestone stela found in the chapel were also devoid of any inscription or imagery.
• Just outside the perimeter wall, on the east site, is another much larger mastaba (No 17), which may have been constructed for the crown prince.
• Beyond the perimeter wall, to the north and northeast of the pyramid complex, there are two clusters of mastabas, of differing sizes, which were built for high officials of Sneferu's reign.

The pyramid complex was originally linked to the bank of the Nile by a 200-metre causeway, paved with limestone, which would normally have led to a valley temple.

However, perhaps due to the marshy ground and high water levels, no trace of this temple has been found. See also: Temples of Ancient Egypt (3000-30 BC).

Excavations

We would know little about ancient art in general, or the pyramids in particular, without archaeology and the efforts of pioneering archaologists.

The Meidum Pyramid was excavated by the British Egyptologist John Shae Perring (1813–1869) in 1837, and the Prussian Karl Richard Lepsius (1810-84) in 1843.

Later it was excavated by Flinders Petrie (1853-1942), the founder of modern Egyptology, together with Egyptologist Percy Newberry (1869-1949) and the civil engineer, George Willoughby Fraser (1866-1923).

In 1920, Ludwig Borchardt (1868-1938) also excavated the pyramid complex and wrote an outstanding book on the subject (Die Entstehung der Pyramide an der Baugeschichte der Pyramide bei Mejdum nachgewiesen - 'The origin of the pyramid is proven by the construction history of the pyramid at Meidum.').

In 1928 it was the turn of archaeologist Alan Rowe (1891-1968), and later Ali Abdel-Rahman Hassanain el-Khouli (1934-2006) in the 1970s, and Rainer Stadelmann (1933-2019) in the 1980s.

Other Famous Pyramids

For details of other famous pyramidal structures not mentioned above, see the following:

• Pyramid of Khafre
  Completed c.2532 BC
  Giza
• Pyramid of Menkaure
  Completed c.2510 BC
  Giza
• Pyramid of Sahure
  Completed 2487–2477
  Abusir
• Pyramid of Neferirkare
  Completed c.2450 BC
  Abusir
• Pyramid of Unas
  Completed 2385-2355
  Saqqara
• Pyramid of Teti
  Completed 2300-2280
  Saqqara
• Pyramid of Senusret II
  Completed c.1888
  El-Lahun

For details of Egyptian painting, sculpture, faience and glass, see Ancient Egyptian Art (3000-30 BC).

References

(1) Edwards, I.E.S. (1979). The Pyramids of Egypt. Penguin.
(2) Lehner, Mark. The Complete Pyramids (2008) Thames and Hudson. ISBN-13 : 978-0500285473.
(3) Petrie, Flinders (1892). Medum. David Nutt: London.
(4) Dictionary of Ancient Egypt (1995) Editor: Ian Shaw. Harry N. Abrams, Inc. ISBN 0-8109-3225-3.
(5) Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000) Editor: Ian Shaw. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-815034-2.