Page 108 - آثار مصر الفرعونية الجزء الأول

the Mena House Hotel in 1899. He knew beforehand that this
pyramid, though small, could provide some rich finds because his
assistant, Arthur Mace, had reconnoitered the site. He began a
very thorough excavation of the entire complex in 1906 directing
a team from Harvard University and the Boston Museum of Fine
Arts. Those excavations continued until 1924.

Menkaure's pyramid, with its original height of some 65-66
meters, represents only about 1/1 Oth of the mass we find in
Khufu's pyramid. However, this may be the result of a theology
which dictated more emphasis on the temples and less on the
pyramid, a process evident to us already in the reign of Khafre
which continued throughout the Old Kingdom.

The Valley Temple

The reconstruction of Menkaure's valley temple is more
difficult than any other element within his pyramid complex. The
west part of the limestone block base and lower part of the core
of the temple's north wall were probably completed during the
ruler's lifetime, while the remaining clay masonry would be
attributable to his son, Shepseskaf. Just behind the portal to the
temple there was a square antechamber adorned with four
columns. The alabaster (calcite) bases of these, columns, pressed
into the clay floor, have been preserved. On either side of this
room are four storerooms. Behind the entrance antechamber, the
whole middle part of the valley temple consisted of a huge open

108