The Tomb of Meresankh IIIمقبرة مرسعنخ الثالثة

Queen Meresankh III was a member of the royal family at the height of the pyramid age — a granddaughter of Khufu and a wife of the pharaoh Khafre. She was buried in a fine rock-cut tomb in the cemetery of nobles and royals east of the Great Pyramid. Her tomb is part of the vast necropolis that surrounds the pyramids, where the kings' relatives and high officials were laid to rest close to their rulers, in beautifully decorated chambers cut into the rock.

The tomb is famous for its exceptionally well-preserved decoration. Its walls are covered with lively, brightly coloured reliefs and paintings — scenes of offerings, boats on the Nile, craftsmen at work, music, and daily life — much of the original colour still vivid after 4,500 years. A striking row of carved statues of royal women, cut from the rock wall, is among its highlights. The artistry gives a warm, human picture of the world of the Old Kingdom court.

The tomb of Meresankh III is one of the decorated tombs at Giza open to visitors, and it richly rewards those who seek it out. After the grandeur of the pyramids and Sphinx, stepping into this intimate, colourful chamber is a completely different and memorable experience. It is a reminder that the Giza plateau is not only about three giant monuments, but a whole city of the dead — including the tombs of the royal women and nobles who surrounded the kings.

• What it is: a beautifully painted Old Kingdom queen's tomb at Giza.
• Arabic name: مقبرة مرسعنخ الثالثة (the Tomb of Meresankh III).
• Who: Meresankh III, granddaughter of Khufu and queen of Khafre.
• Famous for: vivid, colourful reliefs and a row of carved statues.
• Setting: the cemetery of royals and nobles east of the Great Pyramid.
• Today: one of the Giza tombs open to visitors.

Sources include standard Egyptology references. Some details are approximate.