The Dawn of the Age of the Pyramids Part I

Sneferu's Red Pyramid courtesy of ancientegyptonline.co.uk

     This will be the first in a three part series as the author attempts to construct a solid story or report revolving around Sneferu and his three pyramids. It is also an effort to explain to the reader why the first two pyramids failed but the third succeeded. The IV dynasty of the Old Kingdom is one of the most famous of Egyptian history and why shouldn't it be. Marvelous pyramids coupled with powerful kings and the introduction of women in political positions gave them the opportunity to influence Egypt on a grand scale. This blog will follow the life of a king called Sneferu who was the father of the ever more famous pharaoh Khufu or Khnum-Khufu which translates into Khnum (Potter God of Egypt) protects him. The following paragraphs are an attempt to unravel the life of this once immensely powerful and influential pharaoh that sparked an era known as the Age of the Pyramids.

Sneferu, first pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty
courtesy of historyarchaelogy

      Sneferu, whose name means Bringer of Beauties, was the first pharaoh of the IV dynasty however he did not receive the title of kingship by birthright. Sneferu was actually a general before he became pharaoh but what allowed him to inherit the throne? Well, it was not a king or a brother but a woman who had more royal blood than Sneferu. Her name was Hetepheres and she would give birth to the author of the Great Pyramid, Khufu. Now, Hetepheres deserves an entire blog dedicated to herself so suffice it to say, in this blog, she is the wife of Sneferu and the mother of Khufu. Sneferu would go on however to build not one, not two but three pyramids that dominate the skyline of Egypt today; the Bent Pyramid, Meidum Pyramid and finally the Red Pyramid pictured above. Sneferu already had a model on which to base his pyramid, the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser.
     
   
 It must be noted however that again there is some debate surrounding the pyramid of Meidum. Some Egyptologists think that it actually belongs to the pharoah Huni who was the final king of the III dynasty. Again this aspect will be for a later blog as well.

The throne of Hetepheres coutesy of  touregypt.com

       Continuing with the narration of Sneferu's life though, it bears worth repeating that he was not a king by birth. That was left up to his wife, Hetepheres, however upon taking the throne (hence the dynasty change) he did set out on changing Egypt politically and economically. Sneferu, like other pharaohs of this era, raided and pillaged foreign territory, particularly in Nubia towards the south and Libya towards the west however nothing notable except of course the three pyramids. He would go on to reign another 24 years and then his son Khufu would succeed to the throne.

       In conclusion, although it does seem that nothing of note during the reign of Sneferu happened, it must be made known that although he was a military commander he also inherited the throne through the wise and orchestrated marriage to Hetepheres. He conducted raids to the South and West against both Nubia and Libya that resulted in the swelling of the coffers of Egypt. Finally, he would go on to construct three large edifices that are very noticeable in the Egyptian desert which will be discussed later en détail.