World Architecture King Menkaurae

Sam Sui

ARCH 1310: World Architecture 1

12.03.12

King Menkaura (Mycerinus) and Queen

Thesis Question: Which qualities of this sculpture are related to the other artworks during this time period?

The 4 feet 8 inch statue of King Menkaura and his Queen was discovered on January 10, 1910 in the valley temple of Menkaura’s pyramid by archeologist George Andrew Reisner. Although this sculpture was discarded by robbers, it still remains in almost mint condition and serves as “one of the most important masterpieces of Egyptian sculpture.”

King Menkaura, who is the son of Khafre, ruled for 18 years during the 4th dynasty of the Old Kingdom Era. This time period is considered as a golden age since the Egyptians “reached their highest perfection under the Fourth [dynasty].” For instance, during this dynasty, both the Great Pyramid at Giza and the Great Sphinx were built. Based on the architecture and artwork, one of the main aspects that the people in this era considered highly was the afterlife and as a result, statues played an integral part in the burial process. With the help of a priest, rituals were given so that these statues were able to become resting places for a person’s “ka”, or spirit, and so that these statues were able to receive food offerings.

The King Menkaura and his Queen sculpture depicts the pharaoh on the left and the queen (who is debated to be Queen Kamerernebty II) on the right. The pharaoh appears to be wearing three pieces of apparel that exemplify his status as king: a “nemes” which is a type of headdress, a “shendjyt” which is a type of kilt, and a false beard. The king also shows signs of masculinity compared to the queen and appears to be clenching his fist. The queen, on the other hand, appears to be wearing a long wig and a sheer sheath to cover her body. Unlike Menkaura, her hands are wide open and they appear to be supporting Menkaura’s left arm and...