Rising from the Giza Plateau with an air of stubborn permanence, the Pyramid of Khafre deceives the eye. Though slightly smaller than its famous neighbor, the Great Pyramid, Khafre’s tomb cunningly claims the skyline, perched on a higher bedrock foundation and still crowned with a jagged cap of its original smooth limestone casing. Its complex whispers of ancient power and precision, guarded eternally by the immense, inscrutable Sphinx, which is believed to bear Khafre’s own face. Within, a stark, soaring burial chamber of granite holds the silence of millennia, a monument not just to a pharaoh’s ego, but to an empire’s unwavering grasp on eternity.
Who Built Pyramid of Khafre?
Who Built the Pyramid of Khafre?
The Pyramid of Khafre was built for the Fourth Dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khafre (also known as Chephren), who ruled circa 2570 BC. It was constructed as his monumental tomb and eternal resting place, serving as a physical conduit for his soul's ascension to the afterlife. The pyramid complex also included a mortuary temple, a valley temple, and a causeway, forming a complete funerary landscape dedicated to the cult of the deceased king.
The Culture of the Builders
The pyramid was built by the ancient Egyptian civilization during the Old Kingdom period, often called the "Age of the Pyramids." This culture held a profound belief in the afterlife, where the preservation of the physical body through mummification and its protection in a massive, permanent tomb was paramount. The pyramid's construction was a state project, mobilizing a skilled workforce of laborers, artisans, and engineers, not slaves, who were housed and supported by the central administration.
Other Relevant Tombs They Built
The same Old Kingdom Egyptian culture, particularly the Fourth Dynasty, was responsible for other iconic pyramid tombs at the Giza plateau and elsewhere. These include:
- The Great Pyramid of Khufu, built for Khafre's father.
- The Pyramid of Menkaure, built for Khafre's son.
This architectural tradition evolved from earlier monumental tombs, such as the Step Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara, and included experimental forms like the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid built by Pharaoh Sneferu, Khafre's grandfather.
