Pyramid G3-a

One of the 3 pyraminds near the pyramid of Menkaure

29°58′18″N 31°07′42″E / 29.97167°N 31.12833°E / 29.97167; 31.12833Constructedc. 2510 BC (4th dynasty)TypeTrue PyramidHeight28.4 meters (original)Base44 meters (original)

G3-a (also G3a, G3 c, GIIIa) is one of the three pyramid companions of the Pyramid of Menkaure. It is located on the south side of the Menkaure pyramid in the Giza Necropolis. It is the easternmost of the three pyramids of the queens. The pyramid was built during the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, presumably for one of the wives of Menkaure. The American archaeologist George Andrew Reisner was "confident" that the structure housed Khamerernebty II,^[1]^[2]^[3] but this is far from certain.^[1]

It is a true pyramid,^[1] with a base that is 44 metres (144 ft) square; its original height was 28.4 metres (93 ft).^[4] The structure has a T-shaped chamber carved out of the bedrock, to which an entrance opens on the north face of the structure.^[1] The American archaeologist Mark Lehner argues that this is akin to the layout of a satellite or ka pyramid. The fact that the structure once contained a pink granite sarcophagus,^[1] however, has led scholars to speculate that it may have been reused as a queen's burial tomb, or that it served as a chapel where the body of Menkaure was mummified.^[5]^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Verner (2007), p. 252.
^ Dodson & Hilton (2004).
^ Reisner (1947), pp. 186-187.
^ Verner (2007), p. 463.
^ Lehner (1997), p. 134.
^ Lehner (1997), p. 136.

Bibliography

Dodson, Aidan; Hilton, Dyan (2004). The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-05128-3.
Lehner, Mark (1997). The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries. London, UK: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 9780500050842.
Reisner, George Andrew (1942). A History of the Giza Necropolis. Vol. III. Harvard University. (Note: This is the second unpublished follow-up to Reisner's work A History of the Giza Necropolis Vol. I, published by Harvard University Press)
Verner, Miroslav (2007). The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments. New York City, NY: Grove Atlantic. ISBN 9780802198631.

External links

Pyramid G3-a at Digital Giza

Egyptian pyramids

List of Egyptian pyramids (Lepsius)
Commons

Period

Dynasty	Pyramids

Old Kingdom
(2686–2181 BC)

III	Djoser Buried Layer Lepsius I Athribis Elephantine Edfu South el-Kula Naqada Saujet el-Meitin [de] Sinki [de]
IV	Seila Meidum Bent Red Khufu Djedefre Unfinished Northern Pyramid of Zawyet el'Aryan Khafre Menkaure Khentkaus I Mastabet el-Fara'un G1-a G1-b G1-c G1-d G2-a G3-a G3-b G3-c Lepsius L
V	Userkaf Neferhetepes [de] Sahure Neferirkare Khentkaus II Neferefre Unfinished Nyuserre Lepsius XXIV Double Headless Djedkare-Isesi Unas
VI	Teti Pepi I Merenre Pepi II Sesheshet

1^st Intermediate Period
(2181–2040 BC)

VIII	Ity Neferkare Neby Ibi Khui
X	Merikare

Middle Kingdom
(2040–1650 BC)

XI	Reherishefnakht
XII	Amenemhat I Senusret I White Senusret II Senusret III Black Hawara Neferuptah [de] Central Dahshur [de] South Mazghuna North Mazghuna
XIII	Ameny Qemau Khendjer Southern South Saqqara SAK S 3 SAK S 7 [de] South Dahshur A [de] South Dahshur B [de] DAS 46 DAS 49 DAS 50 DAS 51 DAS 53 [de] S 9 S 10 Merneferre Ay