Sneferu: Builders of the Pyramids

Overview

Sneferu was an influential Egyptian pharaoh who reigned from around 2543 to 2510 BC, and he holds a unique place in history as the only pharaoh to have overseen the construction of three pyramids. His first attempt, the pyramid at Meidum, collapsed during construction, and the second—the famous Bent Pyramid—was altered mid-construction, resulting in its distinctive, angled form. Sneferu’s third and final pyramid, known as the Red Pyramid, marked the first successful construction of a smooth-sided pyramid and set the stage for the grand structures at Giza. In Sneferu, you step into the role of an Egyptian architect enlisted by the pharaoh to finally build the perfect pyramid, one worthy of his legacy. Sneferu, now acutely aware of his mortality, demands excellence—this final pyramid must be grand and enduring, or the consequences will be dire. The architect who succeeds in creating a structure as enduring as the pharaoh himself will receive wealth and honor. But those who fail? They face burial in the ruins of their own flawed designs. The stakes are high—so get building!