The Pyramid of Menkaure is the third and smallest of the three great pyramids of Giza. It was built for King Menkaure (also called Mykerinos), a pharaoh of the 4th Dynasty and probably the son of Khafre, around the 26th century BC. Small as it is next to its neighbors, it was the most richly finished of the three, with its lower courses cased in red granite brought from Aswan.
Quick facts about the Pyramid of Menkaure
- Built for: King Menkaure, 4th Dynasty.
- Date: around the 26th century BC.
- Original height: about 65 m (215 ft); today about 61 m (200 ft).
- Base: about 102 by 105 m.
- Angle: about 51°20′.
- Casing: red Aswan granite on the lower 16 courses, limestone above.
- Satellite pyramids: three small pyramids to the south, for queens.
Where is the Pyramid of Menkaure?
It stands on the Giza Plateau on the western edge of Cairo, a few hundred meters southwest of the pyramids of Khafre and Khufu. From the panoramic viewpoint you can see all three pyramids lined up, with Menkaure’s pyramid and its three small queens’ pyramids in front. See our guide to the Pyramid of Khafre.
Why is the Pyramid of Menkaure the smallest?
Historians are not sure. The kingdom may have had fewer resources after the huge projects of Khufu and Khafre, or royal priorities may have changed. What is clear is that Menkaure spent heavily on quality: granite casing, granite-lined chambers and large temples with statues. The king seems to have died before the work was finished, and his successor Shepseskaf completed the temples in mudbrick.
What is inside the Pyramid of Menkaure?
A descending corridor starts on the north face and leads to a chamber decorated with carved panels imitating a palace façade. From there a passage continues to a lower level with an antechamber and the burial chamber, which is lined with granite and covered by large granite slabs cut to form a pointed roof. A side room with six niches, probably for storage, opens off the lower passages.
The mortuary and valley temples
The mortuary temple against the east face of the pyramid was built with enormous limestone blocks, some estimated at around 200 tons. A causeway led down to the valley temple, where the American archaeologist George Reisner found some of the finest statues of the Old Kingdom in 1908 to 1910, including the famous slate triads of Menkaure with the goddess Hathor and a provincial god, and the pair statue of Menkaure and his queen. They are now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
The lost sarcophagus
In 1837 the British officer Richard William Howard Vyse explored the pyramid and found a beautiful basalt sarcophagus in the burial chamber. In 1838 it was shipped to England on the merchant ship Beatrice, which sank off the coast of Spain, near Cartagena; the sarcophagus has never been recovered. Vyse also found a wooden coffin lid with Menkaure’s name and some human bones. The lid dates from a later restoration of the burial in the Saite period (7th to 6th century BC), and radiocarbon dating showed that the bones belong to the early Christian era. The lid travelled on another ship and is now in the British Museum.
The attempt to destroy the pyramid
In 1196 the Ayyubid sultan al-Aziz Uthman, son of Saladin, tried to demolish the pyramids, starting with Menkaure’s. After about eight months of hard work his workers had only managed to remove part of the casing, and the project was abandoned. The large gash still visible on the north face dates from this attempt.
Visiting the Pyramid of Menkaure
- Ticket: the Giza Plateau ticket covers the outside of the pyramids; entering a pyramid needs a separate ticket, and the pyramids open inside rotate.
- Best time: early morning, when it is cooler and less crowded.
- Inside: the corridor is low and steep, so it is not recommended for claustrophobic visitors.
- Combine with: the Sphinx, the panoramic viewpoint and the Grand Egyptian Museum.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is the Pyramid of Menkaure?
It was originally about 65 meters (215 feet) high and stands about 61 meters (200 feet) today, making it the smallest of the three main pyramids of Giza.
Can you go inside the Pyramid of Menkaure?
Yes, when it is open. Entry needs a separate ticket in addition to the Giza Plateau ticket, and the pyramids open to visitors rotate, so check on the day of your visit.
Where is Menkaure’s sarcophagus?
His basalt sarcophagus was lost at sea in 1838 when the ship Beatrice, taking it to England, sank off the Spanish coast. A later wooden coffin lid bearing his name is in the British Museum.
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