Overview:

is the smallest of the three main pyramids in the Giza Necropolis located on the Giza Plateau, south of Cairo, Egypt. The pyramid was built for pharaoh Menkaure of the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt (26th century BC). The pyramid was likely originally encased in smooth, white Tura limestone, but only the bottom courses remain today. The pyramid consists of a base of 108.5 meters (356 ft) square, and a height of 62.5 meters (205 ft). It is estimated that the pyramid held around 6,000 to 7,000 metric tons of limestone and basalt, and would have taken over 4,800,000 blocks of stone and over 100,000 tons of copper to build. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Egypt
Prominent Features:

The Pyramid of Menkaure is a small step pyramid located in the necropolis of Giza in Egypt. Construction was started around 2510 BC by Pharaoh Menkaure, the son of the famous Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The pyramid stands at a height of 62 feet (19 meters) and is made up of five steps. There are three small satellite pyramids located around the Pyramid of Menkaure which were built for each of Menkaure’s wives. The pyramid is made of limestone blocks and is the smallest of the three main pyramids found in Giza. It is believed that the Pyramid of Menkaure was originally encased in granite. The entrance of the pyramid is located on the north side of the structure and leads to an unfinished corridor to a burial chamber. The main features of the Pyramid of Menkaure are the mortuary temple found on the east side of the pyramid and a Valley Temple found nearby and connected by a causeway. The mortuary temple, which was built in a walled court, is aligned with the east/west axis of the pyramid and is characterized by a number of storage rooms and a large hall. The Valley Temple is a large structure made of limestone and granite and was part of a complex which included a causeway and temple. Inside the temple there was a large ceremonial court with a statue of Menkaure and his consorts. The pyramid also had a number of cult chapels around it dedicated to cultic gods. Overall, the pyramid of Menkaure is a small but remarkable structure showcasing the skill of the ancient Egyptians in pyramid and temple building. Even though it is much smaller than the pyramid of Khufu and Khafra it is still an impressive example of this type of ancient architecture. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Egypt.

History:

The Pyramid of Menkaure (or Mycerinus) is the smallest of the three main Giza Pyramids, located on the Giza Plateau in Egypt. It was built for the Pharaoh Menkaure (Mycerinus) of the Fourth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. The pyramid was commissioned by Menkaure around 2532 BC. It is situated southwest of the larger Great Pyramid of Khufu and is the smallest of the three pyramids at Giza. The pyramid was constructed of limestone and mud brick. The core of the pyramid was filled with yellow limestone, while the rest was made of mud brick and rubble. Its base is 104.4 meters (or 343 feet) and the height is 65.5 meters (or 214 feet). The pyramid is thought to have had five steps or terraces with each level of the pyramid decreasing in size, culminating at the apex. The funerary temple, situated on the eastern side, is one of its most impressive features. Decorative reliefs line the walls inside the temple and depict kings and gods from the Egyptian underworld. The interior of the pyramid also has three chambers, of which the uppermost was likely to have held a granite sarcophagus containing the remains of Menkaure. The Pyramid of Menkaure has sometimes been overshadowed by its larger neighbors Khufu and Khafre, but it stands to this day as a testament to the ambition and success of the Pharaoh Menkaure. It is one of the most impressive examples of Old Kingdom pyramid construction and a reminder of the power and grandeur of the Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs. Visit one of the famous monuments of Egypt with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Pyramid of Menkaure is the smallest of the three great Pyramids of Giza, and the only one of the three that wasn’t built by Pharoh Khufu. 2. The Pyramid of Menkaure stands at 66.5 meters (218.5 feet) high and was built around 2530 BC by the Pharaoh Menkaure. 3. A causeway runs from the north wall of the temple of Menkaure to the entrance of the pyramid. This causeway contains eight pairs of statues. 4. The 16 statues on the causeway are carved from alabaster and represent Menkaure in different stages of his life. 5. The entrance to the Pyramid of Menkaure lies at the side of the building and leads to a short descending passage that takes visitors to a chamber with three niches. 6. On the Pyramid of Menkaure’s north face is a terrace that was used for rituals. 7. On the south face of the pyramid of Menkaure are the remains of a mortuary temple. One of the historical monuments of Egypt, it tells the story of a bygone era