+201004317020 - +15308221680 [email protected]
+201004317020 - +15308221680 [email protected]

pyramid of khafre

In Giza Complex, the Pyramid of Khafre is the second-largest pyramid. It was built around 2570 BC by the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Khafre, Khufu’s son, and it is southwest of the older Pyramid of Khufu.

The Great Pyramid is about 10 meters taller than the Khafre Pyramid, which makes the Great Pyramid the largest pyramid in Egypt. The top of the pyramid is one of a kind because it still has some of the original cladding.

Khafra built his pyramid at Giza next to the pyramid that his father had made. Its pyramid complex has survived better than others, partly because of a new way of building that used large blocks of limestone covered by thin slabs. After the god’s death, the pharaoh’s whole complex was used as a temple for him.

At the top of this pyramid, a piece of the original white stone made up the outside casing. Learn more about this ancient thing of beauty.

If you are looking for an amazing experience that you will ever have in Egypt, check out Egypt travel packages

Where is the pyramid of Khafre located?

pyramid of khafre
Amazing view of pyramid of Khafre

On the Giza complex outside of Cairo, southwest of the Great Pyramid of Cheops is the Pyramid of Khafre.

Who built the pyramid of Khafre?

This pyramid was built by Pharaoh Khafre, the son of Pharaoh Cheops and the father of Pharaoh Menkaure, whose name is on the other two pyramids in the same cemetery.

The Pharaoh also told his workers to build the Sphinx, the Valley Temple, the road that leads from the pyramid to the funerary temple, and a solar boat.

Why was the pyramid of Khafre built?

Pharaoh decided to build the pyramid so that it could be his tomb and his spirit would live on forever as a sign of his power and strength after he died. The ancient Egyptians did this because they thought there was life after death.

When was the pyramid of Khafre built?

Historians differ about the date of the pyramid’s construction, but it was built between 2559 and 2535 BC.

Who is Pharaoh Khafre?

pyramid of khafre
Pharaoh Khafre found in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Khafre (or Khafra, which means “looks like Re”) was Khufu’s (probably by Queen Henutsen) son, and Djedefre, who came before him, was his brother. Queen Khamaerernebty I, the mother of Menkaure, his successor, and Queen Meresankh III were his most essential wives (daughter of his brother, Crown Prince Kawab). He had several sons, including Menkaure, Nebemakhet, Misuerre, Khenterka, Duaenre, Nikawre (Nekure), and Sekhemkare. Khameremebty II and Shepsestkau are two of his daughters that we know about.

One of the ancient Egyptian kings who reigned during the height of the ancient Egyptian civilization was King Khafre. King Khafre lived from 2575 BC until 2465 BC. This Egyptian monarch was a member of the Fourth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt, which governed Egypt in the twenty-sixth century BC. He is also the son of King Khufu, for whom the Great Pyramid of Khufu was constructed in the Giza region. In contrast to many of his relatives who were interred in modest and inexpensive tombs, King Khafre was an exception. The Great Sphinx monument is close to King Khafre’s pyramid, the Pyramid of Khafre, which was constructed during his reign. One of the kings of ancient Egypt is this one. During his rule, the Valley Temple was erected. It is a temple joined to the Khafre pyramid by a bridge of enormous granite blocks. Additionally, it has a few statues that were created using supplies brought back from the Nubian desert.

The importance of the Pyramid of Khafre:

pyramid of khafre
View of the pyramid of Khafre behind Sphinx

The significance of constructing the Khafre pyramid stems from the importance of making all Egyptian pyramids, which shows the strength of political authority. By moving numerous stones and laying them out in a specific pattern to create the pyramid’s ultimate form, the ruler who constructs the pyramid can control many employees to build a great pyramid that may take many years. Forethought and commitment to making the pharaonic king’s name permanently inscribed on a monument honoring all of humanity.

The Pyramid of Khafre:

pyramid of khafre
Behind the Sphinx, the Pyramid of Khafre is seen

is the middle pyramid among the three Egyptian pyramids. The Pyramid of Khafre was built for the son of King Khufu, the owner of the Great Pyramid. The Pyramid of Khafre is located southwest of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. From a superficial point of view, the pyramid of Khafre appears to be higher than the pyramid of Khufu, but it is lower. From the Pyramid of Khufu. The pyramid of Khafre was built at the height of 144.78 meters. It is believed that this pyramid was subjected to the theft of some of its contents, like many other Egyptian pyramids during the dark period, which increased the fame of this pyramid and made it more distinguished from the rest of the other pyramids. Next to it is the presence of the Great Sphinx in the area opposite the pyramid of Khafre, which gives this ancient Egyptian pyramid a majestic appearance to the viewer from afar. The ancient Egyptian civilization and the ingenuity of the ancient Egyptians in architecture and sculpture.

Khafre pyramid design

pyramid of khafre
Near the Sun Boat Museum, you can see the pyramid of Khafre

The Great Pyramid of Khufu is larger than the pyramid of Khafre, which was intended to be the second-tallest pyramid in the Giza region. To make up for this size difference, the Great Pyramid of Khufu was built in a higher area. The complex surrounding the middle pyramid also contains several smaller pyramids. The Great Sphinx is the most noticeable of the several figures carved around this pyramid in the complex. The larger stones are on the upper side of the pyramid, which has the lower side. This pyramid’s design differs from the rest of the Egyptian pyramids in that most of them have concealed entrances that are invisible to the untrained eye. The Khafre pyramid was built differently and had two visible entries leading to the burial chamber inside, which houses King Khafre’s tomb. Since this pyramid was built and up until the present, a variety of circumstances and factors have contributed to a state of erosion in the model of the pyramid, in addition to a significant decline in the models and statues surrounding the pyramid, including the Sphinx, and scattered around.

Construction of the pyramid

Because the tomb’s layout demonstrates two distinct stages of construction, historians believe that Pharaoh Khafre was not in good health. To begin with, a considerably more modest-sized pyramid stand-in was constructed. It was outfitted with a modest burial chamber, which served as a contingency plan if the king passed away unexpectedly.

After some time, when it became apparent that the smaller tomb was not required, the pyramid was expanded to its current size, and the tomb was created on the south side of the pyramid while elevated. The old tomb was renovated to serve as a repository for various objects associated with funerals.

There was a reason why the pyramid was referred to as “Khafra the Great.” Not only is the tomb astonishing in its magnificence, but so are the buildings nearby. Many of the ancient Egyptian buildings are dwarfed compared to the dimensions of these monuments. A temple was built next to the pyramid, but it has since been reduced to rubble; however, it is not difficult to recreate the temple using the ruins.

The temple contained a total of five prayer rooms, as well as passageways and a courtyard. Within the yard, there were twelve statues depicting the pharaoh. And to the southeast of the Great Sphinx stood the lower temple, to which a broad stone path extending for a distance of five hundred meters led.

pyramid of khafre
One of the reasons the pyramid of Khafre is so well-liked is that visitors are let inside

The construction of Khafre’s pyramid in its entirety

The fact that visitors are allowed to go inside the pyramid of Khafre is one of the reasons it is so popular. It is forbidden to climb the tomb to prevent causing any damage to the cladding that has been carefully kept on the peak of the structure since the period of Ancient Egypt.

The area surrounding the Pyramid of Khafre

Except for the surviving face, this pyramid appears to be very similar to other Egyptian tombs from the outside. Nevertheless, it has a great deal of significance for historians and archaeologists. It has a square-shaped platform at the very top of it, and at the very center of that platform is a square depression. In the past, a stone “pyramid” or “benben” was attached to the top of each pyramid, and it served as an ornament. The location of the stone itself is a mystery, but the tomb of Pharaoh Khephra is the only confirmation that the “pyramids” actually existed.

Within the confines of the pyramid of Khafre

The inside of the pyramid of Khafre is far less complex than that of the tomb of Cheops. One burial chamber has a space that is 14 meters long and 5 meters wide. Inside this chamber is a coffin that is relatively substantial in size, as well as vessels that were used to store the internal organs of the monarch. The tomb is unique among pyramids in that it has not one but two entrances and two tunnels leading to the burial chamber. Because the tomb was constructed in two stages, it was necessary for there to be a second entry for the thieves to have a chance of breaking into the pyramid. However, the possibilities of their success were increased due to the presence of this second entrance.

The hall in the middle of the lower corridor is where most of the enigma surrounding the Khafre pyramid lies. Because the burial chamber and the place to store the canopy are located in the primary room, it is evident that this is not either of those places. The treasury was likely situated in this area. But there is no evidence to support this hypothesis.

 

Valley Temple of Khafre

pyramid of khafre
Valley temple of Khafre in Giza Complex

The Valley Temple of Khafra is one of the ancient Egyptian sites maintained the most. The concept that the pharaoh was a living manifestation of a deity is reflected in the fragments of various statues depicting the pharaoh that have been discovered here. One of these statues is the famous statue of Khafra, which shows him seated on a lion throne with Horus’s falcon behind his head. This statue was created for CG 14, images of which can be found at the beginning of the article. Sphinxes measuring eight meters tall stood far from this temple’s two entrances.

Around the building’s entrance doors are the sole inscriptions that have survived; they contain the names and titles of the pharaoh, as well as the names of the goddesses Bastet (at the north entrance) and Hathor (at the south door) (south entrance). Recent construction in front of a temple in the valley revealed the location of a ritual purification site and two ramps with underground tunnels heading into the valley. These locations were found inside the canyon.

Where it is located?

The Valley Temple can be found in Giza, on the part of the pyramid of Khafre that is located to the east.

Who built the Valley Temple?

King Pharaoh Khafre ordered the building. He was the fourth in his dynasty and was responsible for constructing the Sphinx, the pyramid of Khafre, and the remainder of the funeral complex.

Why was the Valley Temple built?

This location was explicitly constructed to carry out the rituals of mummification and cleansing before the deceased was placed in the pyramid.

Summary

The “golden age of the Old Kingdom” was when Khafre lived. He and his family constructed some of the most impressive pyramids in human history and the largest in Egyptian history.

The Great Sphinx statue is almost as well-known as the pyramids themselves. This enormous figure is said to have been commissioned by Khafre to act as a protector of the Giza tombs.

During excavation near the Valley Temple connected to Khafre’s pyramid, a sizable pharaoh figure was also found next to the Sphinx. Valley Temple performed two distinct tasks. Before burial, the king’s mummy was first purified using this method.

Khufu, his father, is credited with perfecting the pyramid design and erecting the most significant monument ever seen in antiquity. Khafre’s pyramid is smaller and lacks part of his father’s exquisite craftsmanship, suggesting that the 4th Dynasty may have already begun to crumble under his control. However, he added several distinctive features to the Giza Necropolis.

Don’t miss to check out our Pyramids of Giza, Memphis, and Sakkara Day Tour