Pyramid of Menkaure

About Pyramid of Menkaure

Smallest of the three main Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

The Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the three main pyramids of the Giza complex, on the Giza Plateau in the south-western outskirts of Cairo. It was built as the tomb of Menkaure of the Fourth Dynasty, son of Khafre, who named it "the Divine". Each side of the base measures 108.5 metres; originally 65.5 metres high, it now stands at about 62 metres after losing its outer casing, and its volume is roughly one tenth that of Khufu's pyramid. Its distinctive feature is that Menkaure chose to case the lower part in red granite brought down the Nile from Aswan, to a height of about 17 metres, with white Tura limestone above; the rough, unpolished granite blocks are still clearly visible around the base. The entrance, on the north side about four metres above the ground, leads to a 31-metre descending passage, a stone-lined vestibule, a horizontal corridor with three portcullis slots and the burial chamber, where a wooden coffin bearing Menkaure's name was found. Numerous signs of unfinished work indicate that the king died while the monument was still under construction, leaving its completion to his successor Shepseskaf. The complex includes a mortuary temple on the east side, a causeway, a valley temple and three subsidiary queens' pyramids along the south side, the first of them for Queen Khamerernebty II, Menkaure's wife.

Where:

Cairo, Egypt