Mykerinos Pyramid
Smallest Pyramid in Giza
To serve as the final resting place of the fourth dynasty pharaoh Mykerinus or Menkaure, the Mykerinos Pyramid is the last among the 3 pyramids that line the famous Giza Plateau in El Giza near Cairo. It is as well the smallest pyramid in among the three main pyramids in the area.
The Mykerinos Pyramid originally has some height of about 65-66 meters, representing only about 1/10th of the mass that is of the largest Khufu’s pyramid.
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History and life of Mykerinos
Mykerinos is a known pharaoh of the fourth dynasty with his name meaning “Eternal like the Souls of Re “He was the successor of Khafre. In a story by Herodotus, it is told that Mykerinos or Menkaure was a better leader and more benevolent in comparison to this predecessors.
The smallest among the three pyramids in the area of the Giza Necropolis, Mykerinos Pyramid is called Netjer-er-Menkaure with the literal meaning of Menkaure is Divine. Additionally there are 3 satellite pyramids that is associated to his pyramid and known to have been the burial grounds of his queens. The satellite pyramids are sometimes labeled as G-IIIa (east) G-IIIb (Middle satellite pyramid) and G-IIIc (West satellite pyramid).
There were many speculations why Mykerinos did not build a pyramid of the same scale as that of his father and grandfather’s. Building on the same rock foundations of the first two pyramids, this left not much space to create a grand pyramid. Another reason could be is that the materials used to build the Mortuary Temple for the burial used more expensive materials.
The Mykerinos Pyramid at Present Days
Today when tourists visit the El Giza Plateau they are treated to amazing sites and wonders. Most tours and itineraries to the Giza Plateau will include visits to the Pyramids as well as the Great Sphinx, the Valley Temple and the museums that abound in this area.
To date there are still several excavations being done in the general area of Mykerinos Pyramid. Archeologists were able to discover massive burial grounds of what are thought to be pyramid workers. Additionally there were other discoveries that continue to push the level of curiosity and making historians effort more in understanding the history of the old kingdom more.
