2021 . Sep . 15

Meidum Pyramid (Location, Name, Purpose, Facts, Shape & Collapse)

When anybody mentions the word Pyramid, the Great Pyramid of Giza must be the first thing to pop in your mind, since it is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. But did you know that there are more than 5000 Pyramids on Earth?! One of such pyramids is Meidum. We'll discuss its collapse, its history, and how it was discovered in the following paragraphs of this article.

Where Did The Word Pyramid or Iginate?

Have you ever wondered about the origin of the word Pyramid? It actually comes from a Greek word “Pyramid” that is Wheat Cake, because that’s how the Pyramids looked to the Greek when they saw them, they were actually called “Mer” in Ancient Egypt.

How Many Pyramids Exist in Egypt?

Egypt actually has 118 Pyramids. The Pyramids always amazed the whole world for multiple reasons, they started building them from the beginning of the Old Kingdom till the end of the Ptolemaic period in the 4th century AD. The Pyramid reflected the unique role of the Pharaoh in Ancient Egypt; they also reflected the economic condition at that time; the bigger the Pyramid, the more luxurious the situation was.

Egyptian Pyramids Facts

The pyramids weren’t built at first the way it is famous for now, the first Pyramid ever built was named “The Step Pyramid” due to its shape. The Maydum Pyramid is probably the second one constructed ever after “The Step Pyramid” of King Djoser, this one was initially built for the Third Dynasty King Huni and continued by Sneferu.

Where Was the Maidum Pyramid Built?

The Maidum Pyramid lies in Lower Egypt, about 100 Km south to Cairo, the Capital.

What is The Name of The Meidum Pyramid?

The Meidum Pyramid has a very unusual shape; that’s why it is famous with the name “El Haraam El Kadaab,” the Arabic word for Pseudo Pyramid.

What is The Purpose of The Maidum Pyramid?

They built it first as a step Pyramid; then they tried filling the steps with limestone encasing, then it collapsed and believed that they stopped working on it as many of the insides weren’t even finished.

The Maydum Pyramid Facts

Who Discovered the Maydum Pyramid?

The excavation of the Pyramid started in 1837 by John Shae Perring and later by Flinders Petrie, who also discovered the mortuary temple; further excavations were made till the 1970s.
The remaining part of King Sneferu’s Pyramid is about 65 meters high; according to Flinders Petrie, the Pyramid was designed initially with the same dimensions and proportions as the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Who Built The Pyramid of Meidum?

It is said that the Meidum Pyramid belongs to King Sneferu, not Huni, his father, because his name wasn’t mentioned in an inscription inside the Pyramid. It is more likely to be built by King Sneferu, the father of King Cheops.

Original Shape of The Collapsed Pyramid at Meidum

The uncertain facts about the collapse and the original shape of this Pyramid is what makes it unique.

What Shape Was The Pyramid at Meidum?

When Napoleon investigated Egypt in 1799, he said that is was three steps Pyramid the same as the present time, while the historian Al Maqrizi (1364-1442) said it looked like a five stepped-mountain, that’s why we aren’t sure about the time it collapsed it, or if it collapsed several times.

The Collapse

It is believed that the meidum pyramid partially collapsed in ancient times while building it due to construction errors. The best part about history is that there is always more to be discovered, several theories can be made, but it is hard to be certain.