Pyramid of Menkaure, Cairo

Name: Pyramid of Menkaure
Address: Cairo, Egypt

#14 among attractions in Cairo

Pyramid

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Photo details 1. Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 4.0 / MusikAnimal / URL • 2. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 / Morhaf / URL • 3. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / Institute for the Study of the Ancient World / URL • 4. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Mav / URL • 5. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Mohamedwardany / URL • 6. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Dudubot / URL • 7. Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 / Eyes Roger / URL

Facts and practical information

The Pyramid of Menkaure stands as an ancient testament to Egypt's grand history, situated on the Giza Plateau near Cairo. As the smallest of the three Great Pyramids of Giza, it was built as a tomb for Pharaoh Menkaure, who reigned during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom, around 2500 BC. Despite its smaller size, with an original height of 65 meters, now reduced to 61 meters due to the loss of its outer casing and capstone, it remains a significant part of the iconic pyramid complex.

Constructed of limestone and granite, the Pyramid of Menkaure reflects the remarkable architectural skills of ancient Egyptians. Its complex also includes three subsidiary pyramids, often referred to as "queens' pyramids," and several mastabas, which are flat-roofed tombs with sloping sides.

The pyramid has been the subject of archaeological interest for centuries. In the 1830s, English army officer Richard William Howard Vyse used gunpowder to force an entrance into the pyramid. Inside, chambers with impressive granite walls and a sarcophagus were discovered, though the mummy of Menkaure was never found.

Visitors to the Pyramid of Menkaure can marvel at the precision of its construction and the sheer scale of the undertaking, despite it being the smallest of the Giza trio. The pyramid is open to the public, allowing tourists to explore the corridors and offering a glimpse into the ancient burial practices of Egypt.

Local name: هرم منقرع Built: 2510 B.C.E.Height: 213 ftSlope: 51°Coordinates: 29°58'18"N, 31°7'48"E

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Cairo Egypt

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Day trips

Pyramid of Menkaure – popular in the area (distance from the attraction)

Nearby attractions include: Great Pyramid of Giza, Giza pyramid complex, Pyramid of Khafre, Pyramid of Khentkaus I.

0.6 miNE
, Ruins, Architecture
Great Pyramid of Giza, Cairo
15 min walk • The Great Pyramid of Giza is an ancient marvel and the most significant of Egypt's famous pyramids. Located on the Giza Plateau, near the city of Cairo, it is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the complex. Also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, after the...
0.4 miN
Archaeological site,
Giza pyramid complex, Cairo
11 min walk • The Giza pyramid complex, an archaeological site situated on the Giza Plateau near Cairo, Egypt, is one of the most astonishing and enduring monuments of ancient Egyptian civilization. Comprising the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre, and the Pyramid of...
~1620 ftN
Pyramid, Historical place
Pyramid of Khafre, Cairo
8 min walk • The Pyramid of Khafre is an ancient testament to Egypt's grandeur, and it dominates the plateau of Giza just outside Cairo. This imposing structure is the second-largest of the renowned Pyramids of Giza, standing at a height of 136.4 meters (448 feet).
~1860 ftE
Ruins
Pyramid of Khentkaus I, Cairo
9 min walk • Nestled in the shadows of the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Pyramid of Khentkaus I, often referred to as the Fourth Pyramid, stands as a testament to Egypt's ancient grandeur. This architecturally significant ruin, located on the outskirts of Cairo, is believed to be the...
0.5 miNE
Specialty museum, Museum, Ship
Solar Boat Museum, Cairo
14 min walk • The Giza Solar boat museum is located in Egypt. It was constructed around 1985 and was dedicated to display the reconstructed Khufu ship, a solar barque; this however was relocated to the Grand Egyptian Museum in August 2021.
0.6 miNE
Pyramid
Pyramid G1-a, Cairo
16 min walk • G1-a is one of the subsidiary pyramids of the Giza East Field of the Giza Necropolis, located immediately to the eastern side of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It was built during the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt.
~1680 ftN
Pyramid
Egyptian pyramids, Cairo
9 min walk • The Egyptian pyramids are ancient masonry structures located in Egypt. Sources cite at least 118 identified Egyptian pyramids. Most were built as tombs for the country's pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kingdom periods.
~840 ftW
Pyramid
Pyramid G3-c
5 min walk • G3-c is one of the three pyramid companions Pyramid of Menkaure. It is located on the south side of the Menkaure pyramid in the Giza Necropolis. It is the westernmost of the three pyramids of the queens.
0.6 miN
Archaeological site
Giza West Field
15 min walk • The West Field is located on the Giza Plateau, to the west of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is divided up into smaller areas like the cemeteries known as the Abu Bakr Excavations, as well as several cemeteries whose toponyms are based on the mastaba numbers such as Cemetery G 1000 and Cemetery G 1100.
~1190 ftN
Pyramid
Pyramid G2-a
6 min walk • Pyramid G2-a is the name of the satellite pyramid of Khafre. The structure was located on the south side of the main pyramid, along its centerline, and likely housed a statue dedicated to the pharaoh's ka. The structure contains two descending passages: The first opened on the north side of the pyramid and terminated in a small chamber.
~520 ftW
Pyramid
Pyramid G3-a
3 min walk • G3-a is one of the three pyramid companions Pyramid of Menkaure. It is located on the south side of the Menkaure pyramid in the Giza Necropolis. It is the easternmost of the three pyramids of the queens. The pyramid was built during the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, presumably for one of the wives of Menkaure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which popular attractions are close to Pyramid of Menkaure?

Nearby attractions include Pyramid of Khafre, Cairo (8 min walk), Egyptian pyramids, Cairo (9 min walk), Pyramid of Khentkaus I, Cairo (9 min walk), Cemetery GIS, Cairo (9 min walk).