BestMausoleum.com - Mausoleums, Monuments, Memorials of the World

Unique mausoleums built by Egyptian pharaoh Sneferu does not attract many tourists. It is pity, because Sneferu’s pyramids pre-date the latter ones constructed in Giza.  They represent a tribute to architectural searches and titanic efforts of the ancient civilizations.

Centuries after pharaoh Sneferu had been gone, his ruling was viewed as the gold age of Egypt.  He is depicted as a wise and generous ruler of the Fourth Dynasty who build up many temples and buildings. Sneferu is also a father of the ancient Egyptian fleet: fourty of his boats were importing cedar from Lebanon. Other ships would travel to further places like Livia, Nubia and Sinai.

During his life Sneferu constructed not just one but three pyramids as mausoleums. He transformed old step pyramid of his predecessor pharaoh Hunu to a true pyramid. He also built a famous personal mausoleum known as a Bent Pyramid - a unique example of early pyramid development.  Bent Pyramid has a mysterious small satelite pyramid of unknown purpose and a a small temple on eastern side of it.

Sneferu was not happy with Bent Pyramid and considered it imperfect. That is why he started a third mausoleum which is known to us as Red Pyramid. It is the 4th largest pyramid after the ones in Giza. While Sneferu’s pyramids are smaller, the total volume of stone used in Sneferu’s monuments is the larges of all pharaohs.

At the time of its completion, Red Pyramid was the tallest man made structure in the world! Many centuries later granite mausoleum’s surface became exposed to the surface. Its light crimson hue gave name to Sneferu’s final resting place.

Currently, Sneferu’s mausoleums are considered transitonal from step pyramids to the smooth ones that we are all familiar with.  It is evident, though, that Sneferu’s successful ruling dramatically expanded search for architectural solutions in construction of personal and family mausoleums.

Everybody in the world heard about Arlington National Cemetery - the largest military cemetery in the United States.  It was established during the Civil War and since that time over 290,000 people were buried there.  It may come as news, but there are also two family mausoleums in Arlington National Cemetery.

These are the only two mausoleums located in the borders of the cemetery. The first family mausoleum is the final burial place for many descendants and members of the Miles Family. And the second one belongs to the Sullivan Family.

Lieutenant General Nelson Appleton Miles served for 42 years in the United States Army.  He fought in the Civil War, Indian Wars and Spanish-American war.  He was already old when the World War 1 began but he still volunteered to serve in the army. President Wilson turned Miles down due to his age.  General Miles died in 1925 and was buried  in Arlington National Cemetery at the first mausoleum confined within this area.

Brigadier General Thomas Crook Sullivan whose final resting place is in the second mausoleum in the confines of Arlington National Cemetery land a long lasting military career too.  He was a guard for president Abraham Lincoln during his inauguration.  Then Sullivan served during the Civil War participating in many decisive battles. General Sullivan died in 1908 and after the cremation his remains were buried in the mausoleum of the Arlington National Cemetery.

It seems that both personal mausoleums are destined to be the only ones on this famous cemetery.  Since 1925,  none of other deceased American war heroes and veterans ever received such a prestigious burial place.