Egypt's Bent Pyramid is Now Open to Public

Pyramids have always been upheld as specimens of architectural perfection. Well the Bent Pyramid in Egypt is bound to alter your perception. Built around 2600 B.C. during the reign of Pharaoh Sneferu this is a unique structure. The sides of the pyramid rise to a steep 54-degree angle then it suddenly tapers off at a 43-degree angle toward the top, giving it a "bent" look.

Recognised as a World Heritage site with UNESCO, the 331 ft high structure is a prime example of early pyramid development. The architects noticed small cracks during construction and changed the angle of the pyramid mid-project, leaving it with the distinctive shape. Both the Bent Pyramid and its satellite are located at Dahshur which is a part of the Memphis Necropolis and includes the Giza Pyramids.

In an effort to increase tourist interest in the country, the Antiquities Ministry, announced that the oddly-shaped &lsquoBent Pyramid&rsquo was to be open for the public for the first time since its excavation in 1965. The ministry also unveiled the latest discoveries of stone, clay and wooden sarcophagi, some of which contained mummies with wooden funerary masks. The findings also included stone-cutting tools which date to the Late Period.

Restoration work on the pyramids has involved the consolidation of their inner structures and walls. Keeping in mind the ease of tourists, an external and internal lighting system has been installed, along with wooden ramps and stairs. Tourists have to walk along a 79-meter-long passageway which will then lead them to the burial chambers.