Egypt halts Mycerinus pyramid renovation project after international controversy

02-02-24

Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has decided to halt restoration work on the smallest of the three pyramids of Giza, the one dedicated to Mycerinus. It has taken this decision after an international controversy arose when the first images of the renovation works, recently started and scheduled to be completed in three years, were released.

Many experts raised the cry to heaven when they saw the exterior granite covering that is being installed on the pyramid with the aim of resembling its original appearance. In view of the repercussions, the work has been halted and a committee of specialists in archaeology, engineering and architecture - including the renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass - has been appointed to analyze the feasibility of the project, reports the daily Manassa.

The work, billed as "the project of the century," was spearheaded by archaeologists from the ministry and Japanese experts who intended to study and document the stones in preparation for their subsequent reassembly. "The visitor will be able to see the pyramid for the first time with the outer shell as it was built," explained the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mustafa Waziry, when the first tastings began.

The pyramid of Mycerinus, along with those of Cheops and Chephren, is inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1979 and is considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.

The Pyramid of Mykerinos, also known as Menkaure, is one of the famous pyramids of Giza in Egypt. This pyramid is the smallest of the three main pyramids of the Giza complex, which also includes the pyramids of Cheops (Khufu) and Chephren (Khafre).

The Pyramid of Mycerinos was built for the pharaoh Menkaure, who ruled during the fourth dynasty of Ancient Egypt in about the 26th century BC. Although smaller than its neighbors, the Pyramid of Mycerinos is notable for its mortuary complex and unique architectural details. It originally reached a height of 65 meters, although today it measures slightly less due to erosion and stone quarrying over the centuries.

The Mycerinos pyramid complex includes three smaller subsidiary pyramids believed to have been built for the queens of Menkaure. In addition, there are several temples and other structures associated with the complex, including a funerary temple and a causeway connecting the valley temple to the funerary temple near the pyramid.

The pyramids of Giza, including that of Mycerinos, are one of the most iconic and visited monuments in the world, and have fascinated historians, archaeologists and tourists for centuries. They are among the oldest man-made structures still in existence and are a testament to the ingenuity and skill of Ancient Egyptian builders.