Menkaure's basalt sarcophagus lost at sea off Spain in 1837. In 1837, Colonel Richard William Howard Vyse blasted his way into pyramids at Giza using gunpowder He discovered the sarcophagus of Menkaure in the pyramid of Menkaure, fashioned from a single block of basalt The sarcophagus sides were carved to resemble a palace facade with columns and recessed panels
Colonel Vyse blasted into the Giza pyramids with gunpowder in 1837 and discovered an extraordinary artifact - Menkaure's basalt sarcophagus carved like a palace facade. Sent to Alexandria, it was loaded onto the Beatrice, which vanished near Malta and sank off Spain with all hands. The sarcophagus was never found. 🔱🏺
Key Facts
- In 1837, Colonel Richard William Howard Vyse blasted his way into pyramids at Giza using gunpowder
- He discovered the sarcophagus of Menkaure in the pyramid of Menkaure, fashioned from a single block of basalt
- The sarcophagus sides were carved to resemble a palace facade with columns and recessed panels
- It was considered one of the most remarkable artifacts to survive from Old Kingdom Egypt
- The sarcophagus was extracted using explosives and sent to Alexandria
- It was loaded onto the Beatrice, a small merchant vessel
- The ship disappeared after stopping briefly at Malta, likely caught by a storm off Spain
- The sarcophagus and ship went down with all hands in the Mediterranean Sea
- The wreck has never been located
Related site: Pyramid of Djoser — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: Ancient Treasures that were Lost TWICE by toldinstone