The Pharaoh Sneferu builds three pyramids

The 'inventor' of the true pyramid was Sneferu, who built no less than three pyramids over a 30 year reign. The first, at Meidum, was either unfinished, or collapsed later, as only the central core survives, rising from a mound of rubble.

Then came to 'Bent' pyramid (left). Whereas the later pyramids were built at what came to be considered the 'correct' angle of 52 degrees, the Bent Pyramid begins at an angle of 55 degrees, but this proved too steep, so the angle was changed half way up to 43 degrees, giving it a bent appearance.

Alone of all the great pyramids, the Bent Pyramid has much of its outer casing still intact. We are accustomed the think of pyramids as having a fairly coarse surface, but this is only due to the robbing of the outer casing: originally they were encased in a beautifully finished outer masonry.

Finally, Sneferu built his third, and final pyramid, the Red, or North pyramid. Here he finally got the pyramid shape 'right' though it was built at an angle of 43 degrees, so it appears somewhat squat. This nevertheless was the first of the great pyramids, and when his successor, Khufu, came to build his pyramid, a dozen miles to the north, all he had to do was to change the angle to the greater angle of 53 degrees. But even if Khufu's pyramid - known as the 'Great' pyramid, contains the greatest amount of stone, yet if the stone of all three of Sneferu's pyramids are added together, he becomes the greatest pyramid builder of all.

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