Background:

Menkawre is the son and successor of king Khafre and the owner of the third pyramid in Giza. Four triads and a fragment of a fifth were found in is valley temple by the Harvard/Boston expedition in 1908. These triads represent the king with all royal signs and with goddess Hathor and a local deity. Three of these triads are in the Egyptian Museum while the fourth and the fragment of the fifth are displayed in the Boston museum. The fourth triad is different in the sense of that goddess Hathor is represented seated between the king and queen Khamerernebty or a local deity. Concerning the number of these triads they are either thirty corresponding with the nomes of the old kingdom or eight as the number of niches found in the temple court.

The triads:

They are made out of grey schist

The first triad:

The king is represented standing in the middle with signs of royalty; the white crown, the false royal beard and the shendit. The sculptor represented the face and the body very accurately. The face has delicate features; a small round face, delicate eyes, high check bones, fleshy nose a small mouth and nose. The body is represented very well showing the muscles very well and a wide chest. He is represented clinching his fist on a cylindrical object either to fill the gap in the supposed weak spots or it may be considered as a royal sign. His left leg is stepped forward which is a traditional position to the ancient Egyptians. His arms are pressed to his side.

To the right we have a representation of goddess Hathor. She is the goddess of love, joy, beauty and maternity. She is represented as a beautiful lady with very delicate features wearing the two horns and the solar disk in between. She is standing behind the king’s arm. Her other hand is holding the shen sign of eternity. She is wearing a long tri-partite hair wig. She is wearing a tight dress exposing her body and stepping forward with her left leg.

To the left side there is a representation of a local goddess of the cynopolite nome, the 17th nome in Upper Egypt. This is reflected by the emblem on her head which is the jackal god. She is represented delicately wearing the same hair wig like goddess Hathor. She is holding the king with one hand and the shen sign with the other and both legs beside each other. She is wearing a tight dress. The sculptor did a great job in representing the body features very well. Hieroglyphic inscriptions in front of the king’s feet represent his name and titles while the ones in front of Hathor’s feet represent her title and an offering.

Hieroglyphic inscriptions:

<!--<!-- <!--<!--    <!--<!--   <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

m nbt swt s: in all her thrones

<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--   <!--<!--      <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

Hwt Hr nbt nxt: goddess Hathor lady of the sycamore

<!--<!--  <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!--  <!--<!--   <!--<!--

mry Dt: beloved for ever

 <!--<!--<!--<!--   <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

niswbity mn kAw ra: king of Upper and Lower Egypt Menkawre

On the right side:

<!--<!--<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--              <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

The second triad:

The king is represented almost the same but this time goddess Hathor puts her arms to her side and her legs are beside each other. The local god is of the 4th nome of Upper Egypt with the emblem upon his head for the wAs scepter for Thebes. He is wearing a hair wig and a false beard and a short kilt. His arms are hanging down holding a round roll.

Hieroglyphic inscription:

<!--<!-- <!--<!--    <!--<!--   <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

m nbt swt s: in all her thrones

<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--   <!--<!--      <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

Hwt Hr nbt nxt: goddess Hathor lady of the sycamore

<!--<!--  <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!--  

mry Hwt Hr: beloved of goddess Hathor

<!--<!--<!--<!--   <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

nswbity mn kAw ra: king of Upper and Lower Egypt Menkawre

<!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

kA nHt:  the strong bull

On the right side:

<!--<!-- <!--<!--    <!--<!--   <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

m nbt swt s: in all her thrones

<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

<!--<!--  <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!--

mry Hwt Hr: beloved of goddess Hathor for ever

<!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!--

<!--<!--<!--<!--   <!--<!--  <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!-- <!--<!--

nswbity mn kAw ra: king of Upper and Lower Egypt Menkawre

The third triad:

The king is represented almost the same, also goddess Hathor. The local goddess is represented to the left side her head is surmounted by her symbol which is the symbol of Naga Hamady. Her hands are hanging down holding a cylindrical object

Hieroglyphic inscription:

<!--<!-- <!--<!--    <!--<!--   <!--<!--[if !vml]-->file:///C:/DOCUME~1/ADMINI~1/LOCALS~1/Temp/msohtml