Meydum pyramid

Meydum, further information

The pyramid was apparently planned as a step pyramid, but later the sides were made smooth, converting it into the first geometrically 'true' pyramid.

King Snefru built three pyramids. The pyramid at Meydum was the first of these three buildings. In older literature king Huni of the Third Dynasty is often named as the owner of the pyramid at Meydum. However the name of king Huni has never been found at Meydum. Snefru was identified as owner of the pyramid at least by some New Kingdom graffiti. The name of king Snefru is found in some of the mastabas in Meydum (Petrie 1892: pl. XIX).

Measurements: 144 m (base), 92 m (height)

volume: 638.733 m3

angle: 51* 50'35''

Research and early visitors:

12th century - Taqi ad-Din describes the pyramid as five step mountain
18th century - Frederik Ludwig Norden described the pyramid as with three steps
1798 - the Napoleon expedition, with drawing in the Description
1837 - Perring took measurements
1843, 2 March, 21-22 May - the Lepsius expedition visited the place
1881 - Maspero opened the pyramid
1891 - W.M.F. Petrie
1909-1910 - W.M.F. Petrie and G.A. Wainwright
1929-1930 - A. Rowe (University Museum, Pennsylvania)
1984 - Ali el-Khouli (Egyptian Antiquities Organisation)

Bibliography on the Meydum pyramid (research):

Lepsius 1849-1859: I, Bl.44-45 (one of the first drawings of the pyramid, map of Meydum)
Lepsius 1897-1913: II, 1-6 (the first scientific description of the pyramid)
Petrie 1892: 5-11, pl. II-III (section and plan of the pyramid), pl. IV (plan of the temple)
Petrie/Mackay/Wainwright 1910: 6-9, pl. I-II, V-VI, (on the pyramid), 6-9, pl. VII-IX (on the tombs in the enclosure, 'tombs in peribolus')
Borchardt 1928 (on the three building phases of the pyramid)
Maragioglio/Rinaldi 1964: 6-53, pl. 2-7 (exact measurements of the pyramid, of the temple and the tombs in the enclosure, in English and Italian)
El-Khouli 1991: 11-16, 52-54, pl. 2-6, 62 (on the pyramid); 55-57 (mortuary temple, with excellent drawings), pl. 7-12 (graffiti)
Jánosi 1996: 6-8 (discussion of the tombs inside of the enclosure; the interpretation of these tombs as burial places of queens - as sometimes proposed - seems doubtful)

Bibliography (general):

Arnold 2000: 155-156 (section of the pyramid, short description)
Badawy 1954: 95, fig. 65 (on the pyramid temple); 129-131 (on the pyramid)
Edwards 1961: 65-71
Lehner 1997: 97-100 (many good pictures, excellent maps)
Reisner 1936: 195-197 (the pyramid in the context of the other royal tombs of the early Old Kingdom)
Stadelmann 1985: 80-87 (some good graphics)
Wilkinson 2000: 133-134 (short general summary on the mortuary temple)