Triad of Menkaure between Hathor and the Theban god

Artefact Details

Gallery number: 47 – Ground Floor

Period: Old Kingdom

Dynasty: 4th Dynasty, reign of Menkaure (Mycerinos) (2447-2448 BC)

Place of discovery: Giza, Valley Temple of Menkaure

Dimension:  Height Between 92.5 cm and 95.5 cm

Material: Grey-green Schist

There are three statuary groups called triads (three figures) showing Menkaure with the White Crown of Upper Egypt between the goddess Hathor and the personification of one of the provinces (called nomoi) of the Upper Egypt with his respective emblem. These triads, superbly sculpted in a single block of stone and originally painted in bright colours, were found intact by the archeologist George Reisner in the valley temple of the Menkaure’s pyramid in the year 1908.