Tours: Khafre's Funerary Complex - Revision history

imported>Fielran: updated imageneed template

2023-06-14T02:10:56Z

updated imageneed template

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	\|-\|Khafre's Mortuary Temple=		\|-\|Khafre's Mortuary Temple=

imported>Batfan13 at 05:30, 6 November 2022

2022-11-06T05:30:51Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:30, 6 November 2022
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	\|-\|The Largest Mortuary Temple=		\|-\|The Largest Mortuary Temple=
	The largest of all such structures, [[Khafre]]'s mortuary temple, was entirely built with megalithic blocks of limestone from a nearby quarry, and encased with granite.		The largest of all such structures, [[Khafre]]'s mortuary temple, was entirely built with megalithic blocks of [[limestone]] from a nearby quarry, and encased with granite.

	Parts of Khafre's mortuary temple, particularly the courtyard walls, are thought to have been decorated with splendid reliefs. However, not a single image of the king has been discovered inside the mortuary temple.		Parts of Khafre's mortuary temple, particularly the courtyard walls, are thought to have been decorated with splendid reliefs. However, not a single image of the king has been discovered inside the mortuary temple.

imported>Lady Kyashira at 12:44, 10 July 2021

2021-07-10T12:44:17Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:44, 10 July 2021
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	\|-\|~~The Pyramid of Menkaure~~=		\|-\|Khafre's Mortuary Temple=
	~~[[File:DTAE_Pyramid_of_Menkaure_Sepulchral.png\|thumb\|250px~~\|~~Sepulchral Chamber, Third Pyramid, by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840]]~~		Since the very beginning of the {{Wiki\|Fourth Dynasty of Egypt\|4th dynasty}}, mortuary temples were built adjacent to pyramids, on the eastern side.
	~~The dimensions of [[Menkaure]]'s [[Pyramid~~ of ~~Menkaure~~\|~~pyramid]] are much less grandiose. However~~, ~~unlike its predecessors~~, ~~Menkaure's pyramid shows a great deal of complexity in its internal and external finish~~.

	~~The outside was partially covered in red granite~~, ~~while~~ the ~~internal walls were richly decorated. This latter innovation would not catch on until~~ the ~~end~~ of the ~~{{Wiki\|Fifth Dynasty of Egypt\|5th dynasty}}~~, ~~when pyramid texts began to adorn~~ the ~~walls~~.		Such a location, facing the rising sun as well as the world of the living as a whole, held an important symbolic meaning, for it was within the mortuary temple that kings were revived through daily rituals.

	{{-}}		\|-\|Two Parts=
			In its standard form, a mortuary temple was divided into two parts: a front area which consisted of a vestibule and a courtyard, and an area in the back, where all sacred elements were located.

	~~\|-\|Two Sloping Passages=~~		The back of the temple incorporated several essential features, including an inner sanctuary with a false door, which allowed the soul of the pharaoh to travel between the world of the dead and the world of the living.
	~~[[File:DTAE_Section_through_Menkaure's_Pyramid.png\|thumb\|250px\|Section Through Centre~~ of ~~Third Pyramid~~, ~~by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840]]~~
	~~Menkaure's pyramid contains two sloping passages~~, ~~both located in~~ the ~~northern side~~ of the ~~structure~~.

	The ~~upper one was abandoned during the construction phase~~, ~~whereas the lower one~~, ~~slightly above the base~~ of ~~the monument~~, ~~constitutes the real entrance~~.		\|-\|The Largest Mortuary Temple=
			The largest of all such structures, [[Khafre]]'s mortuary temple, was entirely built with megalithic blocks of limestone from a nearby quarry, and encased with granite.

	~~The lower passage leads to a first room, which~~, ~~for~~ the ~~first time since the reign of Djoser~~, is decorated with ~~engraved false doors~~.		Parts of Khafre's mortuary temple, particularly the courtyard walls, are thought to have been decorated with splendid reliefs. However, not a single image of the king has been discovered inside the mortuary temple.

	{{-}}		\|-\|Khafre's Ambition=
			Khufu's direct successor, [[Djedefre]], followed the custom which required each king to establish a new site for their funerary accommodation, and chose Abu Rawash as his last resting place. When the time came to build his own funerary complex, Khafre, also one of [[Khufu]]'s sons and the successor to Djedefre, broke with tradition, and returned to [[Giza]].

	~~\|-\|The Pyramid Complex=~~		Not only did Khafre thumb his nose at tradition, but he did so in a way which he hoped would allow him to overshadow his father's most important monument.
	~~[[File:DTAE_Seated_Statue_of_King_Menkaure.png\|~~thumb~~\|250px\|Seated Statue of King Menkaure]]~~
	~~While Menkaure's pyramid complex was unfinished~~ at ~~the time of his death~~, ~~it was hastily, and somewhat shabbily, completed by~~ his ~~successor, [[Shepseskaf]]~~.

	~~Even so~~, ~~this funerary structure marks~~ a ~~watershed in~~ the ~~history of this kind of monument. From then onwards~~, ~~the~~ pyramid ~~shrank, whereas the mortuary temple expanded both in its quantitative and qualitative aspects~~.		\|-\|The Pyramid of Khafre=
			Though Khafre's pyramid is smaller than Khufu's, it was cunningly built on a more elevated bedrock layer than the Great Pyramid, making it appear higher than any other pyramid at Giza.

	~~Of particular note~~, ~~it is within Menkaure~~'s ~~mortuary temple~~ that ~~one can find~~ the ~~heaviest block~~ of limestone ~~ever used for a pyramid complex, weighing in at over 200 tons~~.		Today, Khafre's pyramid is the only one among the three at Giza that still has the upper part of its limestone casing.

	~~{{-}}~~		</tabber>
			<tabber>
	\|-\|~~Menkaure's Causeway~~=		\|-\|The Enclosure Walls=
	~~[[File:DTAE_Pyramid_Complex_of_Menkaure.png\|thumb\|250px\|Pyramid of Gizeh (detail)]]~~		Considered a most sacred area, the Giza necropolis was strictly defined, both geographically and physically.
	~~Menkaure's causeway was completed in mud-brick by the king's successor~~, ~~whereas~~ the ~~lower part~~ was ~~nothing more than a simple ramp~~.

	~~As for the valley temple, it was built in two phases:~~ the ~~foundations were first laid out in limestone during Menkaure's reign, but~~ the temple ~~itself was completed in mud-brick afterwards~~.		An 8-meter thick Turah limestone wall completely surrounded the Great Pyramid. The only way inside would have been through the mortuary temple.

	~~As such~~, the ~~valley temple was soon damaged and ended up being completely rebuilt during~~ the ~~6th dynasty~~.		\|-\|The Subsidiary Pyramid of Khafre=
			From the reign of Sneferu and onwards, the subsidiary pyramid became a common feature within the pyramidal complex.

	~~{{-}}~~		The function of the subsidiary pyramid however, smaller in size and in height than the royal tomb, remains unclear, though some believe that it was meant to house the ka of the pharaoh.

	\|-\|The ~~Queens' Pyramids~~=		\|-\|The Ka=
	~~[[File:DTAE_Pyramid_of_Menkaure_-_Queens'_Pyramids.png\|thumb\|250px\|View of~~ the ~~Pyramids South of Third Pyramid, by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840]]~~		In mainstream media, the ka is often defined as the soul of the deceased.
	~~Three small structures referred to~~ as ~~Menkaure's Queens' Pyramids, were erected along the southern side of~~ the ~~main pyramid. One~~ of ~~them was a smooth-faced pyramid, while~~ the ~~other two were more basic step pyramids~~.

	~~Itis difficult to assess whether~~ the ~~latter were designed as such or were left unfinished~~, ~~with no casing to smooth out their surfaces.~~		The truth is a bit more complicated. Within the ancient Egyptian funerary belief system, the ka was a component of a living person, which separated itself from the body at the time of death. It represented the deceased's vital essence.

	~~{{-}}~~

	~~</tabber>~~
	~~<tabber>~~
	~~\|-\|A Change~~ of ~~Purpose=~~
	~~[[File:DTAE_Queen_Pyramid_Entrance.png\|thumb\|250px\|Entrance to~~ the ~~4th and 5th Pyramids (Queens), by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840]]~~
	~~The easternmost pyramid was built with~~ the ~~traditional rooms and corridors found within a~~
	~~satellite pyramid meant to house~~ the ~~King~~'s ~~ka. However, a granite sarcophagus was found~~
	~~within, Leading to the conclusion that it was used as an actual tomb rather than as a symbolic cenotaph~~.

	~~Drawing on these observations~~, ~~some assume that~~ this ~~pyramid was first built as a satellite pyramid for~~ the ~~king's~~ ka, ~~before seeing~~ its ~~purpose change to that of a queen's tomb~~.		In order for the deceased to ascend to a new life, whether in this world or the next, the ka had to be embodied in a statue, and its existence maintained through offerings and rituals.

	~~Which queen~~, ~~however~~, ~~remains~~ a ~~mystery~~.		\|-\|A Shrine on a Sled=
			Within Khafre's subsidiary pyramid, a wooden box containing pieces of cedar was discovered by archaeologists. When reassembled, it turned out to be a shrine mounted on a sled.

	~~{{-}}~~		Just as with the solar barges found around Khufu's pyramid, it seems Khafre's shrine and sled were ritually disposed of after his funeral.

	</tabber>		</tabber>
	[[Category:Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]		[[Category:Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]

imported>Lady Kyashira: Created page with " |-|The Pyramid of Menkaure= Sepulchral Chamber, Third Pyramid, by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840 The dimens..."

2021-07-10T12:40:16Z

Created page with "<tabber> |-|The Pyramid of Menkaure= thumb|250px|Sepulchral Chamber, Third Pyramid, by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840 The dimens..."

Páàjì titun

<tabber>
|-|The Pyramid of Menkaure=
[[File:DTAE_Pyramid_of_Menkaure_Sepulchral.png|thumb|250px|Sepulchral Chamber, Third Pyramid, by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840]]
The dimensions of [[Menkaure]]'s [[Pyramid of Menkaure|pyramid]] are much less grandiose. However, unlike its predecessors, Menkaure's pyramid shows a great deal of complexity in its internal and external finish.

The outside was partially covered in red granite, while the internal walls were richly decorated. This latter innovation would not catch on until the end of the {{Wiki|Fifth Dynasty of Egypt|5th dynasty}}, when pyramid texts began to adorn the walls.

{{-}}

|-|Two Sloping Passages=
[[File:DTAE_Section_through_Menkaure's_Pyramid.png|thumb|250px|Section Through Centre of Third Pyramid, by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840]]
Menkaure's pyramid contains two sloping passages, both located in the northern side of the structure.

The upper one was abandoned during the construction phase, whereas the lower one, slightly above the base of the monument, constitutes the real entrance.

The lower passage leads to a first room, which, for the first time since the reign of Djoser, is decorated with engraved false doors.

{{-}}

|-|The Pyramid Complex=
[[File:DTAE_Seated_Statue_of_King_Menkaure.png|thumb|250px|Seated Statue of King Menkaure]]
While Menkaure's pyramid complex was unfinished at the time of his death, it was hastily, and somewhat shabbily, completed by his successor, [[Shepseskaf]].

Even so, this funerary structure marks a watershed in the history of this kind of monument. From then onwards, the pyramid shrank, whereas the mortuary temple expanded both in its quantitative and qualitative aspects.

Of particular note, it is within Menkaure's mortuary temple that one can find the heaviest block of limestone ever used for a pyramid complex, weighing in at over 200 tons.

{{-}}

|-|Menkaure's Causeway=
[[File:DTAE_Pyramid_Complex_of_Menkaure.png|thumb|250px|Pyramid of Gizeh (detail)]]
Menkaure's causeway was completed in mud-brick by the king's successor, whereas the lower part was nothing more than a simple ramp.

As for the valley temple, it was built in two phases: the foundations were first laid out in limestone during Menkaure's reign, but the temple itself was completed in mud-brick afterwards.

As such, the valley temple was soon damaged and ended up being completely rebuilt during the 6th dynasty.

{{-}}

|-|The Queens' Pyramids=
[[File:DTAE_Pyramid_of_Menkaure_-_Queens'_Pyramids.png|thumb|250px|View of the Pyramids South of Third Pyramid, by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840]]
Three small structures referred to as Menkaure's Queens' Pyramids, were erected along the southern side of the main pyramid. One of them was a smooth-faced pyramid, while the other two were more basic step pyramids.

Itis difficult to assess whether the latter were designed as such or were left unfinished, with no casing to smooth out their surfaces.

{{-}}

</tabber>
<tabber>
|-|A Change of Purpose=
[[File:DTAE_Queen_Pyramid_Entrance.png|thumb|250px|Entrance to the 4th and 5th Pyramids (Queens), by Howard-Vyse & Perring / 1840]]
The easternmost pyramid was built with the traditional rooms and corridors found within a
satellite pyramid meant to house the King's ka. However, a granite sarcophagus was found
within, Leading to the conclusion that it was used as an actual tomb rather than as a symbolic cenotaph.

Drawing on these observations, some assume that this pyramid was first built as a satellite pyramid for the king's ka, before seeing its purpose change to that of a queen's tomb.

Which queen, however, remains a mystery.

{{-}}

</tabber>
[[Category:Discovery Tour: Ancient Egypt]]