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The smallest of Giza's three great pyramids — distinctively faced with red granite around its base, and completing the famous trio on the plateau.أصغر أهرامات الجيزة الثلاثة الكبرى — يتميّز بكسائه من الجرانيت الأحمر حول قاعدته، ويُكمل الثلاثيّ الشهير على الهضبة.
The third and smallest of Giza's three great pyramids was built by the pharaoh Menkaure, around 2510 BC. Far smaller than the two giants beside it, it completes the world-famous trio that defines the Giza skyline. Menkaure's pyramid is distinctive for the rich red granite that once cased its lower portion, giving it a different character from its limestone neighbours — and around it cluster smaller queens' pyramids and the remains of its own temples.
الهرم الثالث والأصغر من أهرامات الجيزة الثلاثة الكبرى بناه الفرعون منقرع، نحو 2510 قبل الميلاد. وأصغر بكثير من العملاقين بجانبه، يُكمل الثلاثيّ الشهير عالميًّا الذي يرسم أفق الجيزة. ويتميّز هرم منقرع بالجرانيت الأحمر الغنيّ الذي كسا جزءه السفلي يومًا، مانحًا إياه طابعًا مختلفًا عن جارَيه الجيريين — وتتجمّع حوله أهرامات ملكاتٍ أصغر وبقايا معابده.
The Smallest of the Three · أصغر الثلاثة
Completing the famous trio.يُكمل الثلاثيّ الشهير.
The pyramid was built for Menkaure (Mycerinus), a grandson of Khufu, around 2510 BC. Standing originally about 65 metres tall, it is far smaller than the pyramids of Khufu and Khafre — roughly a tenth of the Great Pyramid's volume. Yet as the third member of the trio, it is essential to the iconic image of Giza, the three pyramids stepping down in size across the plateau, framed together in countless famous views.
A Red Granite Base · قاعدةٌ من الجرانيت الأحمر
Faced with stone from Aswan.مكسوٌّ بحجرٍ من أسوان.
Menkaure's pyramid had an especially rich finish. While the upper part was cased in white limestone, its lower courses were faced with red granite brought all the way from Aswan, hundreds of kilometres to the south — a costly and prestigious material. Much of this granite casing was left in its rough, unfinished state, and some still survives around the base today, giving the pyramid a distinctive ruddy band quite unlike the pale limestone of its larger neighbours.
Menkaure’s Complex · مجمع منقرع
A royal funerary group.مجموعةٌ جنائزية ملكية.
Like the other kings, Menkaure built a full funerary complex: a mortuary temple at the pyramid's foot, a causeway, and a valley temple below. Beside the main pyramid stand three small queens' pyramids. Excavations of his temples famously uncovered some of the masterpieces of Old Kingdom sculpture — including beautiful statue groups (triads) of the king with goddesses — now treasured in museums. Menkaure's complex thus combines architecture and art at the highest level.
Quick Facts · حقائق سريعة
Sources include standard Egyptology references. Some figures are approximate.