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King Chephren (Khafre)
King Chephren was an ancient Egyptian monarch who ruled during the Fourth Dynasty. He is perhaps best known for his building projects, which included the construction of the second-largest pyramid at Giza pyramids the wonder of Egypt tours. In this blog post, we will explore the life and accomplishments of King Chephren and what are the legends and attractions that he left to see nowadays in the Giza pyramids and Sphinx tour. We will also touch on some of the controversies surrounding his reign.
Family of Khafre
The family was very important to King Khafre. He was the eldest son of King Khufu the owner of the largest pyramid that you will see in your Egypt day trips to the Giza pyramids and Queen Meritites I. He had two brothers, Kanefer and Djedefre, and three sisters, Nebty, Bity, and Hetepheres. Chephren married his half-sister Nefertari, who was the daughter of Queen Khentkawes I. They had four children together, three sons named Khefren, Djedefhor, and Hornit, and a daughter named Betty. Join our Cairo day trips to the Giza pyramids to listen more about the King Khafre family from our expert tour guide and check out the following tours to the Giza pyramids:
- Giza pyramids, Saqqara, and Memphis tour
- Tour to Giza pyramids and Dahshour
- Giza pyramids and Egyptian Museum tour
In his testament, Chephren's father Khufu divided his empire among his sons. As his father passed away in 2532 BCE, Chephren ascended to the Egyptian throne. Before passing away unexpectedly in 2514 BCE, he ruled for eighteen years. Although his exact cause of death is unknown, it's possible that he was poisoned or murdered. King Khufu and Khafre were successful in preserving a rich culture, which is still evident in travel packages in Egypt.
Reign of King Chephren
Chephren was the fourth king of the 4th dynasty of ancient Egypt. He succeeded his father Khufu and ruled for 26 years from 2558-2532 BCE. Chephren is best known for building the second-largest pyramid at Giza, which bears his name and documents his history in Egypt classic packages as it’s the main attraction. The reign of Chephren was a time of great prosperity and achievement in Egypt.
Under Chephren's (King Khafre) rule, the Egyptian economy flourished and trade reached new heights. He oversaw the construction of many monumental buildings, including the tour of the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx that you are visiting today in the luxury tours in Egypt. Chephren was also a great patron of the arts, commissioning works that would be celebrated for centuries to come.
The reign of Chephren was a Golden Age for Ancient Egypt that saw great achievements in art, architecture, and commerce. Thanks to his vision and leadership, Egypt became a powerhouse in the ancient world, a legacy that endures to this day to visit different sightseeing tours in Egypt.
Khafre Pyramid of Giza complex
The pyramid complex of King Chephren is one of the most impressive and best-preserved in Egypt attractions. It consists of a large pyramid (the so-called "Great Pyramid"), several smaller satellite pyramids, a causeway leading to an extensive valley temple, and a tomb complex containing the king's burial chamber and numerous other rooms.
The Great Pyramid, also known as the Pyramid of Khufu, is the largest and most famous of the Egyptian pyramids. It was built around 2560 BCE for the pharaoh Khufu (also known as Cheops) and is thought to have been constructed over a 20-year period. The pyramid stands on the Giza Plateau, on the west bank of the Nile River, and is surrounded by several smaller satellite pyramids, temples, and tombs. Share different attractions in Egypt with your family and join our Egypt family tours that include more interesting historical sights.
The causeway leading from the Great Pyramid to the valley temple is lined with statues of Khufu. The valley temple itself is a massive structure built of limestone and granite, with columns adorned with reliefs depicting scenes from Khufu's life. The tomb complex of King Chephren includes his burial chamber, cut into the bedrock beneath the pyramid, as well as numerous other rooms used for storage and ritual purposes that are considered the main attractions in Cairo.
Khafre in ancient Greek traditions
The Fourth Dynasty was controlled by the ancient Egyptian monarch Khafre. The second highest of the three Great Pyramids, and the one for which he is best known, is his Pyramid at Giza. The Sphinx, a huge figure with a lion's head close to Khafre's pyramid, was also built during his rule.
In ancient Greek art, Khafre was shown as a human with a lion's head. He was also occasionally claimed to be the offspring of a lioness. On one of our affordable Egypt budget tours, you may hear some of the many tales that have been told about King Khafre. In one tale, Hermes came to Khafre and handed him a rod of sorcery that could change everything into gold. Khafre exploited this rod to enrich himself, but Zeus ultimately punished him for his avarice.
Khafre was interred inside his pyramid, according to Herodotus, a Greek historian who lived in the fifth century BC. Since that archaeologists have not discovered any evidence of such a coffin, this narrative is probably not accurate. Yet it demonstrates how highly the Greeks thought of Khafre.
