In our brief visit to the Ghiza pyramids, we did get the chance to see
inside the smallest of the three primary pyramids, Menkaure, shown to the
left.
In our brief visit to the Ghiza pyramids, we did get the chance to see
inside the smallest of the three primary pyramids, Menkaure, shown to the
left.
As with all of the Pyramids, Menkaure is essentially a solid stone structure
with the exception of a tiny passage way leading down to an older and newer
burial chamber. The animated image you clicked on to get to this page was
in fact the stairway down to the original burial chamber--just a steep
walkway with board attached much like rungs on a ladder. The entryway was
about 1.5 meters high and about the same width. Down this passageway they
allowed two-way traffic, making it very claustrophobic and uncomfortable.
[For a complete explanation of Menkaure and the other pyramids, please
visit NOVA's excellent
site]
Click
here for a video that gives you some idea of the size of the passageway!
After
descending the passageway, visitors arrive at the destination marked "Antechamber"
in the diagram above. It is slightly roomier, and is the same level as
the original burial chamber. From this point one has to "scrunch down" a
bit to come to the original burial chamber, which is now simply a featureless
opening with a staircase in the center which leads to the newer burial
chamber
Here
is the new burial chamber, rather tiny and bereft of any content, save
the block of stone at the front right of the picture. And, as I learned
from the diagram above, it is in fact lined with granite. Those pharoahs
pulled out all the stops!
Click
here for a video that gives you some idea of the size of burial chamber
