Egypt abandons plans to renovate Pyramid of Menkaure: summary
What we know
- Egypt has abandoned a controversial plan to reinstall ancient granite cladding on the Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the three great pyramids of Giza, according to a statement from a committee formed by the country's tourism minister.
- Reuters reports that the proposal, initially declared "the project of the century" by Mostafa Waziri, the secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, sparked an international outcry over potential alterations to the ancient monument.
- Egypt's antiquities authority decided to review the project in response to the public's reaction. The pyramids are the sole remaining wonder of the ancient world.
- Menkaure, the smallest of the three great pyramids of Giza, stands out as the only one originally designed to be clad in granite rather than limestone.
- However, over the centuries, pilfering, weathering, and collapse caused many layers to vanish, leaving only seven layers in modern times.
What they said
The committee said in a statement that, "the Menkaure Pyramid Review Committee has unanimously objected to the reinstallation of the granite casing blocks, scattered around the base of the pyramid since thousands of years ago.” A former minister of antiquities, Zahi Hawass, told Reuters, "What I want to say is don't worry, the pyramids of Giza are safe, and nothing will happen to them. People everywhere are calling me, writing letters, and sending emails. They are worried. Don't be worried at all, the pyramids are safe, and no one can touch the pyramid of Menkaure."
