Colossal Menkaure

At an imposing height of nearly 2.35 metres (8 feet), this magnificent travertine (Egyptian Alabaster) statue depicts king Menkaure, the illustrious builder of the smallest Pyramid at Giza, seated in a pose of serene dignity and regal authority.

Unearthed in 1909 by the Harvard University–Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition from the ruins of Menkaure’s pyramid temple at Giza, the statue was later granted to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, by the Egyptian government.

Though it arrived in fragments—with only the head and a leg initially exhibited—its restoration has been a gradual yet meticulous process. In 1925, at the request of archaeologist George Reisner, the renowned expedition artist Joseph Lindon Smith sculpted the torso and buttocks in a more naturalistic style.

The final restoration, completed in 1935 by Egyptologist William Stevenson Smith and Museum School student Charles Muskavitch, brought together the fragments and added a refined reconstruction of the missing elements.

Now proudly displayed in the Egypt: Old Kingdom Gallery (Gallery 108) at the MFA Boston, the statue stands as a testament to the enduring artistry and grandeur of the Old Kingdom. It remains one of the largest known sculptures from Egypt’s Pyramid Age, offering a rare and powerful glimpse into the majesty of ancient royal portraiture.

The colossal statue of King Menkaure is notable not only for its scale and elegance but for the remarkable delicacy of its features. A faint, knowing smile plays across the king’s lips—a subtle expression of calm authority. Just above, the ghostly traces of a thin, pencilled moustache can still be discerned, a style strikingly reminiscent of the 1920s, yet one that was evidently fashionable during the Old Kingdom. This refined facial adornment appears on numerous statues of kings, princes, and high officials of the era, suggesting it was a widely favoured aesthetic.

Menkaure’s face is further distinguished by almond-shaped eyes, a slight pug nose, and a traditional false beard—hallmarks of royal representation. His ears, rendered in natural proportion, reflect the Old Kingdom’s stylistic balance between idealisation and realism. In contrast, statues from the later Middle Kingdom, such as those of Senwosret III, famously feature oversized ears—an artistic innovation symbolising the king’s vigilance and his ability to hear both the cries of his people and the whispers of his enemies.

Menkaure

King Menkaure reigned during the 4th Dynasty around 2600 B.C. Best known for commissioning the smallest of the three Great Pyramids at Giza, his legacy is one of both majesty and refinement. In contrast to the grandeur favoured by his predecessors, Menkaure’s reign is often remembered for its more humanistic tone—reflected in the exquisite artistry of statues depicting the king, as well as statues depicting him alongside what is thought to be his queen, Khamerernebty II. These sculptures, marked by grace and intimacy, speak to a ruler who was not only powerful but deeply attuned to dignity and harmony.

King Menkaure is believed to have reigned for approximately 18 to 28 years, though the exact length is debated due to limited and sometimes conflicting evidence from ancient sources.

Most modern Egyptologists estimate his reign to have occurred around 2530 to 2500 B.C., placing him firmly in the late 26th century B.C. Some scholars suggest slightly different dates, such as c. 2490–2472 B.C., based on archaeological interpretations and reconstructions of the Old Kingdom chronology.

Unfortunately, no definitive king list or inscription has confirmed the exact duration of his reign, but the 18–28 year range is generally accepted.

Summary:

Egyptian Alabaster seated colossal of king Menkaure

Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, c. 2490–2472 B.C.

From the Menkaura Pyramid Temple at Giza. Excavated by the Harvard University-Museum of Fine Arts Expedition in 1909. Assigned to the MFA by the government of Egypt. Accession Date: May 17, 1909.

MFA Boston. 09.204