Pyramid:

  Base: 102.2 by 104.6m

  Height: 65m

  Slope: 51°20'25"

With a height of "only" 65 meters, the pyramid of Mykerinos is less than half the size of the two other pyramids in Giza. Its base area is less than a quarter of that of its two neighbours, and its total building mass is about 10 times less than that of the pyramid of Khefren.

The pyramid was not completed when Mykerinos died and was only partially completed by his successor, Shepseskaf. The upper part was finished in the now traditional fine limestone from Turah, but 16 courses at the bottom were left undressed. This may show, at least for the pyramid of Mykerinos, that the outer casing was laid from top to bottom, probably while removing the ramp(s) that were used to haul the heavy blocks of red granite to the top.

Map showing the location of the pyramid of Mykerinos in relation to the other parts of his funerary complex.

View on the pyramid of Mykerinos from the east, showing the remains of the mortuary temple.

The pyramid's internal structure is far more complex than those of the pyramids of Kheops and Khefren.

The entrance lies about 4 meters above ground level in the north face of the pyramid. From there a passage slopes down for 31 meters to a first room. The walls of the first room are decorated with recessed panels, reminiscent of the false door motif that can be found in many non-royal tombs. Mykerinos' pyramid is the first royal tomb since Netjerikhet's at Saqqara, to have had some internal decoration.
 

Cut-away of the pyramid, shwoing its internal structure.
Source: Lehner, Complete Pyramids, p. 134.

At the opposite end of the panelled chamber, a horizontal corridor, once blocked by three portcullis blocks, continues towards the east-west oriented antechamber. The east end of the antechamber lies directly under the vertical axis of the pyramid.

Directly above the point where the horizontal passage enters the antechamber, another passage opens and, after a short horizontal stretch, leads up into, and stops in, the pyramid core.

A descending passage opens in the middle of the floor of the antechamber and leads west, to the burial chamber that was carved out into the bedrock. It is encased entirely in granite. The ceiling of the burial chamber is rounded, but it was cut out of the undersides of the huge slabs that were laid in the form of a pented roof.

A dark sarcophagus, with the recessed panelling motif, was found empty and witout its lid. It was removed to be sent to England, but unfortunately the ship carrying it sank.

A wooden coffin inscribed with the name of Mykerinos found in the pyramid, appears to be dated to the 26th Dynasty, and the few human remains seem to be of even more recent date.

Just before entering the burial chamber, a chamber with four niches in the east wall and two in the north, opens to the north of the passage. Similar chambers were found in later pyramids as well, be it that the number of niches was reduced to three.

Queens' Pyramids

Three smaller pyramids were built to the south of the enclosure wall of the main pyramid of this complex. Only the easternmost pyramid was a real pyramid, the two others being small step pyramids.

The substructure of the easternmost pyramid suggests that it was started as a satelite pyramid, and that it was later converted into a burial place for one of Mykerinos' queens.

All three pyramids had small mudbrick shrines, showing that there was at least the intention of a funerary cult. Only the middle pyramid contained the body of a young woman, but whether she was the original owner of the tomb, or the result of an intrusive burial, is not known.