Egypt launches pyramid restoration project.

According to The Guardian, the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities recently launched a project to restore the original shape of the Menkaure pyramid – the smallest of the three main pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex – using granite blocks to create its outer shell.

The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Archaeology is collaborating with a Japanese delegation on the project. Dr. Mostafa Waziri, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, noted that this is a large project requiring many collaborators. Waziri and Dr. Yoshimura Sakoguchi are leading the restoration mission.

"Throughout history, there have been many projects dubbed 'Project of the Century,' but in my opinion, the task of restoring the granite shell of the Menkaure Pyramid is just as important and significant as any of those projects," said Waziri.

He described the project as "a gift from Egypt to the world," coinciding with the upcoming opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum, as it will allow visitors to "admire the entire pyramid in modern times."

Initially, 16 granite blocks were used for the pyramid's outer shell, but today only 7 remain. The project, which lasted three years and included research, measurements, laser scanning, and finally the construction of the stone shell, was led by Mostafa Waziri, head of the Supreme Council of Archaeology of Egypt.

Archaeologist Ahmed Mohammadi believes that archaeological discoveries in Egypt are boosting the country's tourism industry.

"We have observed depictions of the Menkaure Pyramid in ancient drawings and inscriptions, and they differ from its current state. This project will restore the pyramid to its original state as it was built by the ancient Egyptians," said Ahmed Mohammadi.

Many opinions are debated.

Mostafa Waziri, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Archaeology, said workers are currently laying granite blocks at the base of the pyramid, which sits next to the Sphinx and the larger Khafre and Cheops pyramids in Giza, near Egypt's capital Cairo.

The three great pyramids of Egypt—Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure—stand perfectly aligned on the ground. Within the famous Giza pyramid complex, these three great pyramids always attract significant public and expert attention. Not only are they thousands of years old, but they also hold intriguing secrets.

When originally constructed, the pyramid was covered in granite, but over time some of this covering has been lost. The restoration aims to restore its original structure by recreating the granite layer.

Earlier, Waziri posted a video on Facebook showing workers moving large blocks of granite to the area at the foot of the Menkaure pyramid.

However, the video attracted mixed reactions. Despite positive assessments from project officials, the decision to restore the Menkaure pyramid remains controversial on social media.

"Impossible! The only thing missing is paving the pyramid of Menkaure! When will we ever put an end to this absurdity in heritage management?" wrote Egyptologist Monica Hanna.

"Instead of tiling, why not put wallpaper on the pyramids?" someone else said.

Meanwhile, Ibrahim Badr, associate professor of archaeological restoration and conservation, also stated that this is a serious situation. Someone needs to read the international conventions on the restoration and handling of Egyptian antiquities.

The issue of heritage preservation in Egypt, where tourism accounts for 10% of the country's GDP, is often a subject of heated debate. The country recently launched an investigation after a renovation contractor painted white the ornate ceilings of the Abu al-Abbas al-Mursi mosque in Alexandria, which dates back to the 15th century.

The Menkaure pyramid, dating back 4,500 years, is the tomb of Pharaoh Menkaure, who ruled the 4th Dynasty of Egypt. At that time, the ancient Egyptians lacked modern technology and equipment, yet they were able to align three pyramids perfectly on the ground.

The pyramid is 61 meters tall, originally over 65 meters. The outer 16 layers are made of red granite, with 7 layers remaining intact. The upper layers are clad in white limestone. The faces of the three pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure are also almost perfectly symmetrical. The edges and apex of these structures nearly coincide with the edges and apex of a compass.