Egypt's story: Sneferu’s pyramids (KOR)

Kwack Min-soo

The author is the director of the Korea Institute of Egyptology and adjunct professor at Hanyang University. 

The first pyramid built by Pharaoh Sneferu was the structure at Meidum that is now commonly known as the "Collapsed Pyramid." The prevailing theory holds that construction originally began as the tomb of his predecessor Huni but passed to Sneferu after Huni died before the project was completed. Some scholars, however, argue that Sneferu directed the construction from the outset. Had it survived intact, the monument would have become the first true smooth-sided pyramid standing more than 100 meters (328 feet) tall. Instead, most of its outer casing collapsed, leaving only the massive central core standing like an enormous stone tower.

Because both the interior chambers and the surrounding mortuary complex were nearly complete, the collapse is believed to have occurred shortly before or soon after construction was finished. The monument was initially planned as a step pyramid before its design was changed during construction into a smooth-sided pyramid. That change may have reflected a broader ideological shift from religious beliefs emphasizing the stars to the growing worship of the sun god Ra. The abrupt redesign, an excessively steep angle and construction techniques that were still developing likely combined to weaken the structure and eventually cause its collapse. Although the disaster probably resulted in considerable loss of life and property, it also became a valuable lesson for the royal architects responsible for future monuments.

At the same time, Sneferu was completing the Meidum project while overseeing the construction of his own pyramid at Dahshur. It was customary for a pharaoh to begin building his tomb immediately after ascending the throne. The first pyramid at Dahshur was likewise designed with a steep slope exceeding 50 degrees. When the Meidum Pyramid collapsed during construction, however, the architects reduced the angle of the upper section, which had already reached nearly half its intended height, from about 54 degrees to roughly 43 degrees in order to lessen the structural load. Cracks discovered inside the monument may also have reinforced that decision.

The result was the distinctive Bent Pyramid, whose lower and upper sections rise at different angles. Measuring about 105 meters (344 feet) in height and approximately 188 meters (617 feet) along each side of its base, it was an immense architectural achievement. Even so, Sneferu appears to have been dissatisfied with the finished structure after so many revisions and compromises because it no longer matched his original vision. He therefore ordered the construction of yet another pyramid in pursuit of a more perfect smooth-sided form.

스네페루의 피라미드들 ②

곽민수 한국이집트학연구소장·한양대 겸임교수

파라오 스네페루가 처음 건설한 피라미드는 메이둠의 이른바 ‘붕괴 피라미드’이다. 원래 선왕 후니의 무덤으로 착공됐다가 후니가 완공 전 사망하면서 스네페루가 이어받았다는 설이 유력하지만, 처음부터 스네페루가 주도했다는 견해도 있다. 온전했다면 높이 100m가 넘는 최초의 일반형 사각뿔 피라미드가 되었겠지만, 지금은 외벽 대부분이 무너져 중앙부만 거대한 석탑처럼 남아 있다.

내부와 부속 시설이 거의 완성된 점을 보면 붕괴는 완공 직전이나 직후에 일어난 것으로 보인다. 처음에는 계단식으로 계획됐다가 공사 도중 일반형 피라미드로 설계가 바뀌었는데, 별을 중시하던 종교관에서 태양신 라를 숭배하는 태양 신앙으로 이념이 변화한 것이 배경이었을 가능성이 있다. 갑작스러운 설계 변경과 지나치게 큰 경사각, 아직 미숙했던 건축 기술이 구조적 불안을 키워 붕괴를 초래했을 수 있다. 상당한 인명과 재산 피해를 낳았겠지만, 이 사고는 왕실 건축가들에게 귀중한 경험을 남겼다.

한편 스네페루는 메이둠 공사를 마무리하는 동시에 다슈르에서 자신의 피라미드도 짓고 있었다. 파라오가 즉위와 함께 무덤 건설을 시작하는 것이 관례였기 때문이다. 다슈르의 첫 피라미드 역시 처음에는 50도가 넘는 급경사로 설계됐으나, 공사 중 메이둠 피라미드가 붕괴하자 건축가들은 이미 절반 가까이 올라간 상부의 경사각을 약 54도에서 43도로 낮춰 하중을 줄였다. 내부에서 발견된 균열도 이런 판단에 영향을 주었을 가능성이 크다.

그 결과 상·하부의 경사가 다른 독특한 ‘굴절 피라미드’가 탄생했다. 높이 약 105m, 밑변 약 188m에 이르는 거대한 건축물이지만, 스네페루는 수많은 시행착오 끝에 완성된 이 형태에 만족하지 못했던 듯하다. 애초의 구상과 너무 달라졌기 때문이다. 결국 그는 더 완벽한 사각뿔 피라미드를 다시 세우도록 명령했다.