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Side view from the northeast, showing the north face; Dahshur is the site of an ancient Egyptian necropolis consisting of Old and Middle Kingdom pyramids, on the west bank of the Nile, 75 km south of Cairo. The oldest pyramid is that of King Sneferu (reigned ca. 2575-ca. 2551 BCE), which is the first to have been designed from the start as a true pyramid. The angle of its sides was decreased halfway up, giving it a rhomboidal appearance, hence its name of Bent Pyramid. Inside the pyramid is a complicated system of corridors and portcullises, and some inner chambers have high, corbelled ceilings. Reliefs in the pyramid's valley temple depict processions of female figures representing Sneferu's estates throughout the country. The pyramid is still in very good condition, retaining most of its outer casing. Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/16/2008)