In the middle of the Egyptian desert, about 100 kilometers south of Cairo, stands a strange silhouette: a masonry tower rising from rubble as if violently stripped of its sides. This is the pyramid of Meidum, one of ancient Egypt's most enigmatic monuments, whose construction secrets continue to fascinate archaeologists.1

The Meidum pyramid was probably begun by PharaohPharaohThe title of the ruler of ancient Egypt, regarded as a living god guaranteeing cosmic order (Maat), supreme head of state, army and worship.→ Huni, last king of the Third Dynasty, and completed by his successor Sneferu. It was first built as a seven-stepped pyramid, then enlarged to eight steps, before Sneferu filled in the steps to create a smooth-sided pyramid. This progressive transformation is visible today in the monument's cross-section, a true architectural stratigraphyStratigraphyThe study of the superimposed layers (strata) of an archaeological site; each layer corresponds to a phase of occupation and yields a relative chronology.→.2

The pyramid of Meidum, an enigmatic stone tower rising from rubble
The pyramid of Meidum as it stands today: only the central core of the construction survives, surrounded by the debris of its collapsed outer casing.

The current appearance of the pyramid - an isolated tower atop a mound of rubble - was long interpreted as the result of a catastrophic collapse, perhaps during Sneferu's own lifetime, which might explain why the pharaoh transferred his building efforts to Dahshur. But this hypothesis is debated: some Egyptologists argue that the debris at the monument's base comes mainly from the medieval looting of its outer limestone casing.3

Meidum's burialBurialThe intentional deposition of a body, sometimes with offerings; a marker of symbolic behaviour.→ chamber is remarkable for its interior architecture. Cut into the bedrock at the base of the pyramid, it is covered by a corbeled ceiling in which successive stone courses gradually converge to form a vault - a technique that would be perfected at Dahshur and Giza. The cult chapel at the foot of the north face is one of the best-preserved of the Old KingdomOld KingdomThe first great period of unified pharaonic Egypt (c. 2700-2200 BC, 3rd-6th Dynasties), the golden age of the great pyramids and of a strongly centralised state.→.

In mastabaMastabaAn early Egyptian flat-roofed tomb with sloping sides, the architectural ancestor of the pyramid.→ M17, adjacent to the pyramid, the famous "Meidum Couple" - two painted limestone statues depicting Prince Rahotep and his wife Nofret - was discovered in 1871 by Auguste Mariette. Now in the Cairo Museum, this work ranks among the masterpieces of Egyptian sculpture. This SLICE Histoire documentary explores the mysteries of Meidum and the ongoing research aimed at unlocking the secrets of its construction.4