Refacing of Egyptian pyramid with granite sparks outrage online

A video showing renovation work to reface in Egypt’s Menkaure pyramid in granite has triggered criticism of the project, with some commentators likening it to 'straightening the Tower of Pisa'.

In a video posted on Facebook on Friday, Mostafa Waziri, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, showed workers setting blocks of granite on the base of the pyramid, which sits beside the sphinx and the larger Khafre and Cheops pyramids at Giza.


When originally built, the pyramid was encased in granite, but over time lost part of its covering. The renovation aims to restore the structure’s original style by reconstructing the granite layer.


It will take place in several phases over a period of three years and include drawing, photogrammetry, documentation, and laser scanning.


But yes, the authorities plan to re-assemble all of the fallen granite casing stones to the bottom 16 courses of the pyramid, which in my opinion is a somewhat ridiculous and unrealistic goal. 



The Guardian