Pyramid of Menkaure

Menkaure's Pyramid

Name of Pyramid:

‘Menkaure is Divine’

Period: 2490-2472 BC, 4th Dynasty

Dimensions:
Base: 102.2x 104.6 metres
Height: 65 metres
Volume: 235 183 cubic metres
Slope: 51 deg 20′ 25″
Location: 29.972232, 31.12843

Status: Currently closed to the public for cleaning and restoration.
Times: When open visitors can enter between 9:00am – 5:00pm.
Price: LE25 entry. Tickets on sale at 8:00am & 1:00pm.

The Satellite Pyramids
Located on the southern side of the pyramid of Menkaure are three pyramids that were most likley used for the burial of Menkaure’s queens. These are sometimes referred to as GIII-a, GIII-b, and GIII-c, ‘GIII’ being short for “Giza, 3rd pyramid”, the third of the three main pyramids on the plateau.

GIII-a
This pyramid was finished in granite and limestone casing and has the T-shaped substructure indicating it was orignally intended as a satellite or ka-pyramid. Like Khafre’s satellite pyramid it lies very close to the central axis of it’s main pyramid. Inside was found a granite sarcophagus which may indicate that it was later re-used as a tomb for a queen, possibly Menkaure’s wife, Khamerernebty II.

A large 19th dynasty statue depicting Rameses II next to a deity was uncovered on the eastern side of the pyramid’s base when sand was cleared away in 1996.

GIII-b
It is thought that this pyramid was either built intentionally as a step pyramid of was never completed. This might suggest that the core of the pyramid and it’s casing rose independant from one another. The body of a young woman was found in the burial chamber of this pyramid.

GIII-c
Like the other two pyramids, remains of a mudbrick chapel was found on the eastern side of the pyramid further supporting the notion that at sometime all three pyramids were used for queen’s burials.