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 This page will remain open, so just close
the NOVA window when finished]
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
pharaohs
pulled out all the stops! Below is a rather low-res video of
the
interior of Menkaure Pyramid by Kangol2009
