Mycerin

Apart from legends, little is known about Mycerin. According to Herodotus and Diodorus , he was the son of Cheops (Khufu) and, therefore, was Jedefra's brother. Perhaps when his father died, he was very young, and when the reign of his brother Gedefre ended, he was only nine or ten years old. Therefore, Chefren was able to take the throne. After the death of Chefren, Mikerin matured and was able to declare his rights to the throne.

Cartouche Mencaura on the Abydos Pharaohs List (No. 24)

Statue of Mencourt and his wife Hamerernebti II. It comes from the lower church of the Menkaur memorial complex. Grawacka . Museum of Fine Arts , Boston . Museum exposition 11.1738

In general, folk and ancient traditions tried to expose Mycerinus as the exact opposite of his father and grandfather - the other builders of the pyramids in Giza . He is characterized by him as a kind and fair ruler. Diodorus writes: “Mycerin, whom some call Menherin, the son of the first pyramid (Cheops). He undertook the construction of the third pyramid, but died before the construction was completed ... He is said to have hated the cruelty of his predecessors and sought to live in peace, doing good deeds to his subjects and doing many other things that could cause ordinary people to feel good about themselves, and also spent considerable money on public affairs, giving gifts to those of worthy people whom, as it seemed, were not properly judged in the courts (under his predecessors). ” ^[1] Herodotus reports: “Then (after Chephren), according to the priests, Mikerin, son of Cheops, became the king of Egypt. He did not like his fatherly deeds. He opened temples and freed the people exhausted by hardships, having released him to work [in his fields] and make sacrifices. He was the most righteous judge of all the kings, for which he is especially praised by the Egyptians among all the kings who have ever ruled over them. After all, he was not only a righteous judge, but even gave money from his goods, dissatisfied with his sentences, to satisfy their requests. ” ^[2]

Perhaps these stories about the merciful nature of the pharaoh are partly due to the fact that the pyramid he built - the third of the great pyramids of Giza - is much smaller than the other two. In the late period, visitors who were reverent in front of these monuments, absolutely unreasonably claimed that tyrannical rulers erected the first two pyramids due to the happiness of their subjects. Therefore, it seemed obvious that the builder of the third pyramid deliberately resisted the oppression of his people by such construction, and therefore, had a more merciful disposition. However, regardless of whether the time so exalted the kindness of the pharaoh or whether he was actually so gracious as the popular rumor conveys, there is no doubt that he had the intelligence not only to be content with a much smaller pyramid conceived and constructed, but also to build it like that close to the pyramids of his father and uncle, that it was impossible not to compare them. ^[3]

One explanation for the smaller pyramid could be the fact that Mikerin lived less than his predecessors. Even in ancient times, Herodotus wrote down a story heard from the Egyptians. It says that after the pharaoh ruled for several years, he received a message from the city of Buto containing the prediction: “You will live on earth for only six years, and you will finish your days in the seventh year.” Outraged, the king sent an oracle to the oracle , reproaching God for injustice. He wrote: "My father and uncle, who locked the temples, forgot the gods and oppressed the people, lived a long time, and I, a pious man, still have to die soon." Then a second letter arrived from the oracle: “That is why your life has come to an end so quickly. You did not do what was proper. Egypt was destined to endure disasters for 150 years. The two kings, his predecessors, understood this, but he did not. ” Having received such an answer, the pharaoh realized that his death was a foregone conclusion. He ordered the preparation of many lamps. At night, the king ordered to light them, he began to drink wine and constantly have fun day and night. He wandered through meadows and groves and everywhere, where he only found suitable places for pleasure. He did this, turning nights into days in order to convict the oracle of lies and make twelve out of six years. ^{[4] [5]}

Perhaps there is some truth in this story. It is entirely conceivable that Mikherin loved pleasures and had a carefree character.

Herodotus reports that in his time (in the 5th century BC ), a life-size statue of a lying cow was kept in a palace in Sais in richly decorated peace. He writes: “She is almost entirely covered with purple clothes, except for her neck and head, which are gilded with a thick layer of gold. Between the horns is an image of the solar disk also made of gold ... Every day all kinds of incense are burned around it, and a lamp is lit all night ... Every year it is taken out of rest, on the very day when the Egyptians beat themselves in the chest in honor of the god Osiris . " The priests or the guide of Herodotus told him that Mykerin's only daughter had died, and the tsar “deeply grieving for this misfortune, wished to deliver her to burial with even greater splendor than was the custom. "He ordered a hollow cow statue to be made of wood, gilded, and then the late daughter placed in it." Herodotus adds that the reason the statue was taken out of rest was because "before her death, her daughter asked her father to let her see the sun once a year." He says that 20 huge wooden statues depicting nude women were stored in neighboring quarters. The priests claimed that these were portraits of the concubines of Mycerinus. They seemed to Herodotus very ancient, because "over time they lost their hands, they fell down and still lay on the floor at the feet of the statues." Another story that the priests told the Greek was that Mikerin “seemed to have inflamed passion for his own daughter and, against her will, possessed her power. After that, the girl, they say, with grief and shame slipped into the noose. The father betrayed her to burial in this cow, and the girl’s mother ordered to cut off the hands of the handmaidens who gave the daughter to her father. ” ^[6]

It seems that in fact the “cow” that Herodotus saw was representing some kind of deity (perhaps the heavenly cow Hathor ), and her image could very well have been made in the reign of Menkaur (Mykerin). It is known that during certain holidays the statues of the gods were taken out of the sanctuaries. Perhaps Menkaur really had a daughter who died during the life of her father. Taking into account the fact that the ancient Egyptian pharaohs almost always married their sisters, and sometimes their own daughters, Menkaur's courtship of her daughter does not seem unusual. However, it is completely impossible for the girl to feel shame about this, since such relations, unacceptable to us, have happened in Ancient Egypt before. And it does not seem at all that the princess had such a strange burial place. This story, as Herodotus himself suspected, is a simple fabrication. However, it is interesting in that it shows what knowledge the priests possessed about their own history and ancient monuments. This knowledge was a mixture of truth and fiction ^[7] .

The exact duration of Menkaur’s reign is unknown. The Egyptian priest Manetho gives his Menherez (who is identified with Menkaur) a reign of 63 years, which looks completely implausible. ^[8] The pyramid and the complex of buildings around it give the impression that Menkaur did not rule for long and foresaw his early demise, as Herodotus points out. The Turin papyrus in the appropriate place is damaged, the king’s name cannot be read, but you can only make out that the number of years of his reign ended with the number 8, (that is, x + 8 years of reign). It may be 18 or even 28 years of reign. Still, modern scientists still consider the figure of 18 years as the most preferred.

Modern to this board, the highest date is the “11th account”. This refers to the national calculation of livestock, with the aim of collecting taxes. Usually, during this period, this calculation was carried out once every two years, that is, the “year of the account” was followed by the “year after the count”. However, sometimes this calculation could be carried out every year. If we take into account the biennial calculation, then this board could last 22 years.

As a throne name, this pharaoh took the name Menkaur , "Affirming the spirits of the solar god ." His choral name was Kakhet , which could mean "God the bull in the flesh." Nebti's name was simply Ka , "The Bull." Manefonovsky Menhera (c) is a rather accurate transmission of the name Menkaur in his late reading. Herodotus and Diodorus in their writings are called Mycerinus. This name is also very close to the original, if we discard the Greek ending -n . ^[9]

Menkaur Pyramid

The smallest of the three great pyramids in Giza, built by Menkaur, was called Necher Menkaur , "Divine Menkaur." In the tomb of an official Debchen, another pyramid is mentioned, called Heru , "High", which is sometimes considered the second tomb of Menkaur. However, it is more likely that this name refers to one of the small pyramids that belonged to one of the members of the royal family. The same Debhen says that Menkaur was so kind that he ordered the construction of a tomb for his subject at the expense of the treasury that day “when His Majesty was on the road near the pyramid of Heru to inspect the work on the pyramid of Necher . ”

The Menkaur Pyramid stands in the southwestern corner of the plateau, at a respectful distance from the tombs of Khufu and Khafra . Initially, its base was 108.4 × 108.4 m, and the height was 65.55 m. Now its dimensions have slightly decreased and are equal: the base is 102.2 × 104.6 m, and the height is 62 meters. Its volume of 260,000 m³ is only a tenth of the volume of the Khufu pyramid: this was the end of the large pyramids. The lower part of the structure to a height of 16 rows was lined with red Aswan granite, then it was replaced by white slabs of Turkish limestone, and the top, in all likelihood, was also red, granite. Such a two-tone she was back in the XVI century , until she was robbed by the Mamelukes . According to eyewitnesses, she was the most beautiful of all the pyramids. Diodorus notes that "although the other pyramids are larger than this, it is far superior to them in their mastery of work and the size of the stone blocks."

The inside of the pyramid reveals a lack of unity of plan. According to the initial entrance, with the further construction of the ceilings, at first the pyramid had a base of about 60 × 60 meters and only later it was almost doubled. Menkaur ordered the burial chamber to be cut out only 6 meters under the base; but in the next phase of construction he lowered it to a safer depth. For the construction of the pyramid, he ordered the use of large blocks, much larger in size than in the Khufu or Hafra pyramids. He wanted to speed up the construction and therefore did not force the workers to process the stone very carefully. But, despite the rush that is felt through the millennia, Menkaur clearly did not live to see the completion of the pyramid. He probably died when she reached about twenty meters high, that is, the level of granite lining; perhaps all of it was supposed to be faced with granite, but the king’s successor eased the task. In the memorial temple, we even find written confirmation of this. They began to build it from stone, but then switched to brick; in its ruins an inscription was found that so commanded " Shepsescaphus , king of Upper and Lower Egypt, for his father, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt, Osiris Mencourt . "

It is interesting that one group of workers who worked on the construction of the pyramid was called quite unusual: "Menkaur is a drunkard ." Egyptologists say the translation is accurate; however, some of them prefer the more polysemantic word "intoxicated." One way or another, but Herodotus also wrote about Menkaur's addiction to drinking bouts.

Unlike the rest, the Menkaur pyramid does not stand on a rocky base, but on an artificial terrace of limestone blocks. The burial chamber is relatively small - only 6.5 × 2.3 meters and a height of 3.5 meters. The ceiling is made up of two blocks, carved from the bottom like a semi-arch, so that it gives the impression of a vault. The walls of the burial chamber and the entrance corridor are lined with polished granite, a staircase connected the corridor with the original tomb and rooms for the funeral utensils. The layout of all these underground spaces is quite complex and reflects at least three changes in the original architectural design. Moreover, it is possible that some adjustments date back to the Sais era .

When, in 1837, researchers entered the pyramid of Menkaur, they discovered that it was looted. In this case, fragments of the body and part of the wooden coffin were found, which are now stored in the British Museum . On the coffin there is an inscription: “the king of Upper and Lower Egypt Menkaur, who lives forever, born of Heaven, conceived Nut , heir to Hebe , beloved by him. Your mother, Nut, has prostrated herself over you in her name, “The Secret of Heaven,” she gives you to live like a god without your enemies ... ”

Also, a magnificent stone sarcophagus was discovered here, which in 1838 was sent on a merchant ship to England. However, the ship with the entire crew disappeared in the area of Cartagena , and now this sarcophagus rests on the seabed. We know him only from Perring 's descriptions and drawing. The sarcophagus was made of basalt and decorated with reliefs depicting the facade of the royal palace, and therefore, interesting enough to cause a variety of different interpretations among Egyptologists. По мнению Борхардта и Зете , саркофаг не мог относиться к эпохе Менкаура, ибо по стилю не соответствует уже известным саркофагам периода Древнего царства. Однако позднее такие саркофаги были найдены, и потому большинство египтологов признали его исконным. В 1954 году это же подтвердил Вандье. Но теперь мы снова сомневаемся. Британский музей послал фрагмент крышки деревянного гроба, найденного в камере Визом, на радиоуглеродный анализ , который показал, что крышка с именем Менкаура относится, скорее всего, к Поздней эпохе . Таким образом, возникает предположение, что погребальная камера была ограблена ещё в древние времена, но мумию грабители оставили и саисские правители приказали уложить мумию в новый гроб. А возможно, и в новый саркофаг, который позднее снова был ограблен… ^[10]

Верхний и нижний храмы, пирамиды-спутницы

Ныне ареал пирамиды — это куча развалин, занесенных песком, однако многолетние раскопки позволяют довольно точно его реконструировать. Заупокойный храм, который, согласно описанию 1755 года, в ту пору был в полной сохранности и занимал площадь 45 × 45 метров, одна половина её приходилась на двор, другая — на культовые и складские помещения. В полукилометре к востоку стоял нижний храм примерно таких же размеров. Его изучение показало, что при VI династии он был реставрирован и расширен. Вероятно, это было сделано из почтения к умершему царю. Оба храма соединялись дорогой из отшлифованных известняковых блоков, преодолевавшей двадцатиметровую разницу в высоте. Следы ёе можно обнаружить и поныне: сохранилось свыше четверти километра дороги.

Намного лучше, чем храмы, сохранились пирамиды-спутницы, которые стоят, как обычно, на южной стороне за оградой. Всего их три, причём две не закончены. Самая большая — восточная — с основанием 44,3 × 44,3 метра и высотой 28,3 метра; на ней кое-где ещё сохранилась гранитная облицовка. Две другие (стороны по 31,5 метра и высота 21,2 метра) ступенчатые, что, если принять во внимание время их постройки, весьма странно; очевидно, планировалось придать им форму «истинных». В 1837 году Виз обнаружил в восточной пирамиде большой гранитный саркофаг, в средней — остатки деревянного гроба и человеческих костей, в западной — лишь пустую и незаконченную погребальную камеру. Каждая из трёх пирамид имела заупокойный храм, и все это было огорожено общей каменной стеной. По предположению Рейснера , который в двадцатые годы XX столетия заново провёл их обследование, восточная пирамида принадлежала первой (главной) жене Менкаура. Владельцев или владелиц двух остальных он, как, впрочем, и другие ученые, не рискнул назвать. ^[eleven]

Статуи

Доктор Рейснер, проводивший раскопки по поручению Музея изящных искусств Бостона , обнаружил в припирамидном храме несколько чудесных скульптур. Четыре триады изображают Менкаура с богиней Хатхор и богинями разных номов Египта. Также был найден реалистичный портрет фараона с супругой, который в настоящее время храниться в Бостоне. Во время раскопок обнаружили великолепную алебастровую статую царя, выставленную ныне в Каирском музее, а также весьма реалистичную голову. В Бостоне хранится торс царской статуи, демонстрирующий замечательное искусство скульптора. Небольшая, лишённая головы статуэтка из слоновой кости, также находящаяся в Бостоне, несомненно, является творением великого мастера. Эти раскопки показали, что сооружения вокруг пирамиды, как и рассказывал Геродот, к моменту смерти Менкаура не были закончены. Доктор Рейснер обнаружил несколько незавершенных статуй. Изображения фараона были известны ещё до его работ. Статуэтка, хранящаяся в Университетском колледже в Лондоне , показывает его завёрнутым в крылья сокола, и поэтому можно говорить, что в тот период главнейшим именем фараона было его хорово имя . На его статуях чаще встречается хорово имя Кахет, чем тронное имя Менкаура.

Были найдены несколько скарабеев, цилиндрических печатей и оттисков печатей. В Бостоне хранится фрагмент жезла, принадлежавший «матери царя Хамерернебти» , чьё имя означало «Сияющая, та что любит Двух Владычиц (то есть богинь Нехбет и Уаджит )» . Она являлась супругой Менкаура, родившей ему сына и наследника Шепсескафа . Похоже у царя был ещё один сын, Хорджедеф, поскольку в « Книге мёртвых » говорится, что когда Менкаура послал его осмотреть храмы по всей стране, тот обнаружил в Гермополе Магна металлическую пластину с инструктацией из ляпис-лазури текстов 30-й и 64-й глав. Существуют и другие упоминания об этом царевиче, свидетельствующие о его необычайной образованности и благочестии. В письме рамессидского периода упоминается о том, как сложно понять его таинственные высказывания. ^[12]

К числу скудных материальных свидетельств о правлении Менкаура следует отнести обломки сосудов с его именем, обнаруженные в Библе и сфинкса с его именем, найденного в Тель-Хацор ( Ханаан ).

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• Заморовский В. Их величества пирамиды / Пер. со словацкого О. И. Малевича. — М. : Главная редакции восточной литературы издательства «Наука», 1981. — 447 с. — (По следам исчезнувших культур Востока). - 15,000 copies.
• История Древнего Востока. Зарождение древнейших классовых обществ и первые очаги рабовладельческой цивилизации. Часть 2. Передняя Азия. Египет / Под редакцией Г. М. Бонгард-Левина . — М. : Главная редакция восточной литературы издательства « Наука », 1988. — 623 с. — 25 000 экз.
• Ancient East and antiquity . // Rulers of the World. Chronological and genealogical tables on world history in 4 vols. / Compiled by V.V. Erlikhman . - T. 1.

• Генеалогия 4 династии