Pyramid of Menkaure

ancient Egypt · pyramids · Giza

Smallest of three. Menkaure's pyramid is way smaller than the famous pyramids next to it, with only about one tenth of the volume of Khufu's pyramid, the biggest one at Giza.

Royal tomb for a pharaoh. This pyramid was built to be the eternal resting place of King Menkaure, a powerful pharaoh during Egypt's Fourth Dynasty thousands of years ago.

Left unfinished. Workers were still building the pyramid when King Menkaure died, so his successor Shepseskaf had to complete the work that was left behind.

Complex of buildings. The pyramid wasn't alone, it was part of a whole complex with a mortuary temple, a valley temple, connecting causeways, and three smaller pyramids on the south side.

Clues in the stone. Many signs of incomplete work remain visible today, showing exactly where builders stopped when the king passed away.