Pyramid G3-a
{{Short description|One of the 3 pyraminds near the pyramid of Menkaure}}
{{Infobox pyramid
| name = G3-a
| image = Flickr - Gaspa - Giza, piramidi minori (2).jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption =Pyramid G3-a, looking southwest
| coords = {{coord|29|58|18|N|31|07|42|E|region:EG_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| date = {{circa}} 2510 BC (4th dynasty)
| type = True Pyramid
| height = 28.4 meters (original)
| base = 44 meters (original)
}}
G3-a (also G3a, G3 c, GIIIa) is one of the three satellite pyramids of the larger Pyramid of Menkaure, located at the Giza pyramid complex. This structure is situated south of the main pyramid and is the easternmost of the three satellites. The pyramid was built during the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, presumably for one of the wives of Menkaure. Egyptologist George Andrew Reisner was "confident" that the structure housed Khamerernebty II,Dodson & Hilton (2004).Reisner (1947), pp. 186-187. but this is far from certain.
It is a true pyramid,Verner (2007), p. 252. with a base that is {{convert|44|m|ft}} square; its original height was {{convert|28.4|m|ft}}.Verner (2007), p. 463. The structure has a T-shaped chamber carved out of the bedrock, to which an entrance opens on the north face of the structure. Egyptologist 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, 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.Lehner (1997), p. 134.Lehner (1997), p. 136.
See also
References
Bibliography
- {{cite book|author1=Dodson, Aidan|author2=Hilton, Dyan|title=The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt|publisher=Thames & Hudson|location=London|year=2004|ISBN=0-500-05128-3}}
- {{cite book|author=Lehner, Mark|year=1997|isbn=9780500050842|publisher=Thames & Hudson|location=London, UK|title=The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries}}
- {{cite book|author=Reisner, George Andrew|title=A History of the Giza Necropolis|volume=III|publisher=Harvard University|date=1942}} (Note: This is the second unpublished follow-up to Reisner's work A History of the Giza Necropolis Vol.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)
- {{cite book|author=Verner, Miroslav|year=2007|publisher=Grove Atlantic|location=New York City, NY|title=The Pyramids: The Mystery, Culture, and Science of Egypt's Great Monuments|isbn=9780802198631}}
External links
- [http://giza.fas.harvard.edu/sites/2295/full/ Pyramid G3-a at Digital Giza]
{{Egyptian pyramids|Egyptian pyramids=}}
Category:Pyramids of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt
Category:Buildings and structures completed in the 26th century BC