Summary

• In the Old Kingdom of ancient Egypt, the Pyramid of Khafre, built during the Fourth Dynasty, was one of three grand pyramids constructed as pharaohs’ final resting places, symbolizing the era’s greatness and showcasing the civilization’s brilliance.
• King Khafre, part of the Fourth Dynasty, commissioned this pyramid and the Great Sphinx. The construction involved a massive workforce, theories varying on who built it, and eventual looting.
• The pyramid’s construction featured innovative architectural techniques, such as varying stone sizes, gabled limestone beams, and a complex interior structure with multiple chambers and passageways.
• Khafre’s pyramid served as a tomb for the pharaoh, holding religious significance in securing his afterlife. Its location, design, and the presence of the Sphinx reflected his beliefs and legacy.
• Despite its ancient origins, the Pyramid of Khafre continues to attract tourists, offering a glimpse into the incredible feats of ancient Egyptian architecture and spirituality.

In the golden era of the old kingdom of ancient Egypt (2686-2181 BC), in the fourth dynasty (2613-2494 BC), three great pyramids were created to be the final resting place of the pharaohs and a true symbol of the greatness and brilliance of the ancient Egyptian civilization. The Pyramid of Khafre is an immortal milestone that rewrote the books of history to showcase the greatness of the 4th dynasty rulers of Egypt. The second pyramid was completed around 2570 BC, which earned the title of one of the biggest and most renowned wonders of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It conveyed many important facts about the politics, religion, environment, and social structure of Egypt during that time period.

The colossal pyramid is renowned for having the great sphinx in its magnificent presence, which has protected the Giza complex for ages. The pyramid gives an illusion of even being greater than usual due to its innovative and incredible architectural brilliance that stood the test of time.

History of the Pyramid of Khafre

The Second Pyramid was established around 2570 BC, King Khafre also commissioned the Great Sphinx, a lion-bodied structure with a pharaoh’s head. Over 400,000 workers labored for 20 years using basic tools to construct it. Nowadays, it would take around 2,000 workers using advanced machinery like stone-carrying vehicles and helicopters around five years to build a similar pyramid. Theories differ on who built it – some suggest skilled workers for wages or slaves for basic provisions. However, some believe it was the farmers who had idle time during flooding who contributed to its construction rather than slaves. The pyramid likely got looted during the First Intermediate Period.

In the Nineteenth Dynasty, Ramesses II ordered the overseer of temple construction to use its stones for a temple in Heliopolis. In 1372 AD, an Arab historian noted the pyramid’s opening, supported by Arabic writing found in its burial chamber around the same time. Giovanni Belzoni explored it in 1818, discovering the entrance on the north side but finding an empty chamber with an open sarcophagus. John Perring conducted the first full exploration in 1837, and later, Auguste Mariette uncovered Khafre’s valley temple and a diorite statue of Khafre in 1858 while clearing the area.

Location of the Pyramid of Khafre

The Pyramid of Khafre is located in Giza within the Giza pyramids. It’s the second-largest pyramid at the Giza Necropolis, southwest beside the Great Pyramid of Giza (Pyramid of Khufu), which is the largest.

Who is King Khafra?

Khafre’s legacy endures through his architectural marvels, but the details of his life remain somewhat shrouded in the mists of time, known to us through a mixture of historical records and archaeological findings. Khafre, who was known as Khephren or Chephren, was one of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs of the Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom. He was the son of Khufu and succeeded Djedefre, who was also famous for building the second-largest pyramid at Giza and is widely believed to have commissioned the Great Sphinx of Giza around 2500 BC. The famous Greek historian Herodotus is a famous writer who lived centuries ago and provided us with everything we know about the pyramid. He was the son of Queen Meritites I, while others proposed Queen Henutsen as his mother.

He had multiple wives, notably Queen Meresankh III and Queen Khamerernebty I, among others, with whom he had numerous children, about 12 sons and 3 or 4 daughters. Some of his children include Nebemakhet, Duaenre, Niuserre, and Khentetka, among others. The reign is known to be between between 2558 BC and 2532 BC, Manetho’s account exaggerates his rule to 66 years. Scholars generally agree on a reign lasting between 24 and 26 years, based on inscriptions like the Will of Prince Nekure, believed to be Khafre’s son.

The Pyramid of Khafre Construction

Khafre pyramid was constructed on horizontal courses; the stones would be larger at the very bottom, but as it rises, the stones would become smaller, only 50 cm thick at the apex. The courses are quite rough and irregular for the first half of their height, but a narrow band of regular masonry is very clear in the midsection of the Khafre pyramid.

The bedrock is fashioned into steps at the northwest corner of the Khafre pyramid. The bottom course of the casing stones is made of pink granite, but the remainder of the pyramid is cased in Tura limestone.

Close examination reveals that the corner edges of the remaining casing stones aren’t interlaid straight as they are staggered by a few millimeters, probably due to an earthquake, or they were shaped like this by the limited workforce.

Khafre Pyramid Architecture Inside

There are two entrances that lead to the internal structure of the pyramid of Khafre to the burial chamber. One of the entrances opens 11.54 m (38 ft) up the face of the pyramid, while one opens at the base of the pyramid of Khafre. The lower descending passageway is completely carved out of bedrock, running horizontally with a vertical portcullis, then ascending to join the horizontal passage leading to the burial chamber.

There is a subsidiary chamber that is equal in length to the Khufu’s king chamber, it opens to the west of the lower passages, it is believed it was used to store offerings and burial equipment. The upper descending passage is clad in granite and descends to join with the horizontal passage straight to the burial chamber, which is carved out of a pit in the bedrock.

The roof is constructed of gabled limestone beams. The burial chamber is 14.2 m x 5 m (46.4 ft x 16 ft) and is oriented east-west. The sarcophagus of Pharaoh Khafre is carved out of a solid block of granite and sunk partially into the floor. There is also a storage place for the canopic jars.

Mortuary Temple of King Khafre

The mortuary temple of the king’s Khafre was the first of its kind as it concluded all the five elements, like an entrance hall, a court featuring a number of columns, five storage chambers, five niche statues of the pharaoh, and the inner sanctum.

It is constructed of huge limestone blocks clad with granite and an alabaster floor. The entrance leads to a narrow passage, and at the south end, there are two chambers in the north and a hallway with two columns that connect to four storerooms and a staircase leading to the roof.

There is a west wall of the hallway leading to a court with 14 square columns and wide bays at the north and south ends, followed by a hallway with ten columns that leads directly to the main court of the temple. The massive rectangular pillars formed the supports for a series of Khafre’s statues.

There are five niches located on the western wall. To the north of the niches, there is a passage leading to the pyramid court, and to the south is a passage leading to a series of storerooms and a small exit. There are about 23 life-size statues of Khafre out of more than 50, which Ramses II removed and replaced with his own.

Valley Temple of Khafre

The Valley temple is famous for being the house of the mummification process in ancient Egypt. There is a causeway that runs 494.5 m (541 yds) to the valley temple. The interior is built out of huge blocks of red granite, while the exterior is made of limestone.

The square pillars of the T-shaped hallway were made of solid granite, and the floor was paved with alabaster. The exterior was constructed of huge blocks that weigh over 100 tons. There are two entrances in the eastern wall to a hallway that runs from north to south. There are two doors that open into a vestibule and a large pillared hall.

How Was the Pyramid of Khafre Built?

Egyptian pyramids were planned by skilled Architects and engineers who designed the structure, determining the pyramid’s dimensions, orientation, and materials needed. The construction required a vast workforce, likely comprising skilled artisans, engineers, and a considerable number of laborers that was estimated to be tens of thousands of workers involved in building these monuments. Limestone blocks were quarried nearby and transported to the construction site. The stone blocks used for the core were large and heavy, while the casing stones were smoother and finer, thus creating a stunning & gleaming exterior that was taken off with time to create a number of construction projects in Cairo.

The construction began with laying the pyramid’s foundation. Workers leveled the ground and created a base for the pyramid, then they built layer by layer, with workers stacking stones in a stepped formation. Each layer consisted of blocks placed on each other, which gradually decreased in size as they reached the top. There were various chambers, passageways, and burial chambers in the interior of the pyramid. These were constructed as the pyramid took shape, with passages designed to deter thieves. The outer casing stones were smooth and polished which were fitted precisely to create a smooth surface. A number of temples and causeways were constructed nearby for religious and ceremonial purposes.

The precise methods used in pyramid construction remain a subject of study and debate among Egyptologists. The exact techniques employed in moving and lifting the massive stone blocks without modern machinery continue to fascinate and challenge researchers, but the majority of scholars believe it comes down to two theories which are:

1. The Ramp Theory is one of the most widely accepted explanations for how the ancient Egyptians constructed the Pyramid of Khafre. Scholars propose that they reduced friction by dragging stones on wet sands, making the process more manageable. The stones were hauled individually to the top, considering their weight.

2. The second theory, “The Water Shaft Theory” suggests the use of wooden boats in a canal to transport the stones, but neither theory has been conclusively proven.

Both ideas highlight the immense challenge of moving around 4.88 million tons of stone from east to west, which emphasizes the astonishing achievement of ancient Egyptians, who accomplished this feat using rudimentary tools. The lack of definitive evidence underscores that these methods remain theories, leaving the mystery of the pyramid’s construction largely unsolved.

Purpose of Khafre Pyramid

The pyramid acted as the final resting place for Pharaoh Khafre, who chose the west for his pyramid, believing it was where the sun “Died” each night. The pyramid held significant religious importance and intended to secure his deified status in the afterlife. This choice of location signified his belief in a continued existence after death, prompting him to store treasures like gold, pottery, clothes, and jewelry for his use in the next life. There’s a theory linking the site’s selection to the pyramid’s weight, suggesting Khafre chose this spot to ensure stability, supported by the collapse of the Meidum pyramid over time.

The Pyramid of Khafre serves as a daily reminder worldwide of his enduring reverence for life beyond death, which was deeply rooted in his spiritual beliefs. The valley temple was built to be the center for the mummification of the king, while the sphinx was carved to carry his face, which protected his pyramid and the entire complex till the end of times.

The Top of the Khafre Pyramid

One of the most incredible features of the Khafre pyramid is the top, which possesses a unique look that provides a glimpse of the possibility that the pyramid was entirely complete and cased with white limestone. The Khafre pyramid would have been topped with a capstone or pyramidion made of gleaming white Tura limestone, reflecting the sun’s rays and making the structure highly visible from afar.

The third of the pyramid within the top is covered with casing stones, plus the entire pyramidion and the apex are completely missing, likely removed or destroyed over the centuries.

Khafre Pyramid Facts

• The Khafre Pyramid is the second-largest pyramid in the Giza Necropolis, right beside the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the largest.
• The pyramid of Khafre has a base length of 215.5 m (706 ft) and rises up to the height of 136.4 (448 ft).
• The entire structure is made up of limestone blocks weighing about two tons each; the estimated weight of the pyramid is 4,880,000 tons.
• The slope of the pyramid rises to the angle of 53° 13′.
• Khafre pyramid sits on the bedrock, which is 10 m (33 ft) higher than Khufu’s pyramid, which gives the illusion that it is taller.
• The pyramid was constructed using large limestone blocks, some of which were transported from quarries nearby. The outer casing, which was originally smooth and made of Tura limestone, has largely worn away over the centuries.
• The Sphinx is a colossal limestone statue with the body of a lion and the head of a human, thought to represent the face of the pharaoh.
• Khafre’s pyramid served as a tomb for the pharaoh, housing his body and treasures for the afterlife, according to ancient Egyptian beliefs.