Pyramid of Menkaure

The pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the three main pyramids of the Giza pyramid complex, located on the Giza Plateau near Cairo, Egypt. It was built as the tomb for King Menkaure, who ruled during the Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt.

This pyramid is made mostly of limestone and granite, showing the skill of ancient Egyptian builders. Inside, there are passages and chambers that were meant to hold the king's belongings. The pyramid and its surrounding complex help us learn about life and ideas from thousands of years ago.

Today, the pyramid of Menkaure is one of the most visited sites in Egypt. It helps us understand the history and culture of one of the world’s earliest and greatest civilizations.

Size and construction

Menkaure's pyramid was the smallest of the three big pyramids at the Giza Necropolis. It was originally 65.5 meters (215 ft) tall but now stands at 61 m (200 ft). It was built using limestone and granite from Aswan. A painted hieroglyph of a boat was found nearby, suggesting there might have been a special spot for a solar barque.

Age and location

The pyramid of Menkaure was likely finished around 2600 BC. It is located a few hundred meters southwest of two bigger pyramids, the pyramid of Khafre and the Great Pyramid of Khufu, in the Giza necropolis.

The pyramid may have been robbed a long time ago, during a time called the First Intermediate Period. Some writers think that all the pyramids were robbed even later, during the New Kingdom, when kings began building their tombs in the Valley of the Kings.

Sarcophagus and coffin

In 1837, Howard Vyse and John Shae Perring found a black sarcophagus made of basalt for King Menkaure. Inside, they found the bones of a young woman. The sarcophagus was placed on a ship called Beatrice, but the ship crashed near the coast of Spain before it could reach Great Britain.

A wooden coffin with Menkaure’s name on it was found in the upper burial chamber. Inside the coffin were the remains of a mummy. This coffin was later moved safely to the British Museum. Tests showed the coffin was made between 1212 and 846 BC. The mummy inside was from a later time, the early Islamic Period.

Pyramid complex

Archaeological discoveries show that builders used a special harbor system connected to the Nile River to move huge stones for the pyramids. This system helped bring materials to the Giza Plateau during the time of King Menkaure.

The temple near Menkaure’s pyramid had walls made of limestone and granite. Some stones were very heavy, weighing as much as 220 tons! It is believed that Menkaure’s successor finished building the temple as a gift to his father, the king. People continued to honor the Pharaoh for many years after he died.

Excavations of the valley temple found many detailed statues of Menkaure. South of Menkaure’s pyramid are three smaller pyramids, possibly for his queens. One of these smaller pyramids might have been used for special ceremonies instead of burials.

Attempted demolition

In 1196, Al-Aziz Uthman, the son of Saladin and Sultan of Egypt, tried to tear down the pyramids, starting with the one belonging to Menkaure. The workers spent eight months trying, but it was very hard and costly. They could only move one or two stones each day. Some used wedges and levers, while others pulled stones down with ropes.

When a stone fell, it would get stuck in the sand, making it very difficult to move. They split stones with wedges and used carts to carry them to the bottom of the hill. In the end, they only managed to make a big mark on the north side of the pyramid.

Restoration attempt

In January 2024, a project began to study and document some granite blocks that had fallen off the outside of the pyramid. The goal was to put these blocks back, but the work was expected to take three years. Soon after the project started, it was stopped. Many researchers disagreed with the idea, and a group of experts brought in by Egyptian officials, led by Zahi Hawass, also did not agree with putting the blocks back.