Menkaure’s
sarcophagus
From a pyramid at Giza to a reported loss at sea.
Vyse’s account describes a decorated stone chest removed from a pyramid at Giza and shipped towards Britain in 1838. The vessel was reported lost. The British Museum catalogues a small fragment as part of the object. “Menkaure’s sarcophagus” is its conventional name.
Five-minute introduction
No background knowledge needed
Original documents
Sources and research dossiers
What is known, and what remains open
In his account of the 1837 work, published in 1840, Vyse called the object a “sarcophagus” and described it as “entirely empty”. His account records its removal and shipment, and reports the vessel’s presumed loss. His terminology alone does not establish the object’s original use. The precise wreck location remains unresolved in the sources assembled here. V84V85
Historical account
The sarcophagus
Description, dimensions, original plans and the surviving fragment.
Read section ↗02Vyse and removal
Extraction, museum correspondence and the reported permission.
Read section ↗03Beatrice and the voyage
The vessel, conflicting reports, geographical notes and insurance record.
Read section ↗04Previous searches
Documented fieldwork, proposals and what their evidence establishes.
Read section ↗Historical illustrations and source records
Consult original pages, drawings and research reports. Each record identifies the document type and exactly what has been examined.
Open questions are listed separately
Uncertain voyage details, possible loss scenarios and archival priorities are documented on the research page. They are kept distinct from source-supported historical statements.