Mykerinos, also known as Menkaure, was an Old Kingdom Egyptian pharaoh and the fifth king of the Fourth Dynasty. Although his biographical data is limited, his reign and his pyramid left an important legacy. In this article, we will focus on the most significant aspects of his reign and the associated archaeological finds.
The reign of Mykerinos
Mykerinos was the son of Pharaoh Chephren and succeeded his father on the throne. His reign is estimated to have lasted between 2532 and 2503 BC. Although his reign was relatively short compared to other Fourth Dynasty pharaohs, he left a significant impact on ancient Egypt.
The pyramid of Mykerinos
One of Mykerinos' most notable achievements is the construction of his pyramid, the third and smallest of the Giza pyramids. The pyramid of Mykerinos, also called the “Red Pyramid”, is considered more modest than those of its predecessors, but it remains an impressive example of ancient Egyptian architecture.
The pyramid is about 65 meters in height, which is significantly smaller than the pyramids of Cheops and Chephren. However, this does not detract from the importance of the pyramid in the historical landscape of ancient Egypt.
Archaeological discoveries
Several archaeological discoveries have been made around the pyramid of Mykerinos. Among them is the Mortuary Temple of the Pharaoh, which has revealed detailed carvings and reliefs depicting Mykerinos himself. These discoveries give us insight into the religious beliefs and burial practices of the time.
Also, the tomb of Queen Khamerernebty II, wife of Mykerinos, was discovered near the pyramid. The tomb contained inscriptions and statues which offer valuable information about the life and role of the queen during the reign of Mykerinos.
Although information about Mykerinos is limited, his reign and his pyramid remain important in the history of ancient Egypt. The pyramid of Mykerinos, although more modest than those of its predecessors, testifies to the evolution of Egyptian architecture and offers a fascinating insight into the beliefs and practices of the time. Archaeological finds associated with his reign continue to inform our understanding of this period of Egyptian history.
📋 LIST OF EGYPTIAN SOVEREIGNS 📋
Hotepsekhemwey / Sneferka / Nebra / ninetjer / Senedj / Noubnefer / Horus Ba / Peribsen / Sekhemib / Khasekhemwy / Neferkasokar / | |||
Djoser / Sanakht / Sekhemkhet / Spoon / Huni | |||
Sekhemre-Khutaouy Amenemhat-/Sobekhotep I/Sekhemkare Amenemhat-Senbef/Sekhemkare Amenemhat V/Ameny-Qemaou/Hotepibre Qémaou-Sa-Hornejhéritef/Ioufeni/Séânkhibrê Amény-Antef-Amenemhat (or Amenemhat VI)/Semenkarê Nebnoun/Sehotepibrê Sousekhtaouy | |||
Sekhaenre Yakbim/Nebuuserre Yaammou/Khauserre Qareh | |||
Semqen/Aper-Anat/Sakir-Har/Khyan/Apophis I/Apophis II?/Khamoudy | |||
/Sekhemre-Sementaouy Djehouty/Sekhemre-Sousertaouy Sobekhotep VIII | |||
Twenty-first dynasty | |||
Twenty-second dynasty | |||
Twenty-third dynasty | |||
Twenty-fourth dynasty | |||
1st Persian Dynasty | |||
Thirty-first dynasty (Achaemenid) | 2nd Persian Dynasty | ||