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Khafre
- Builder of the second Pyramid of Giza and the face of the Sphinx.
Kafre built the second of the Great
Pyramids of Giza.
Khafra or
Khafre (Greek Chephren) was an Egyptian pharaoh of the Fourth dynasty,
with his capital at Memphis.
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| Portrait
by
Winifred Brunton |
According to some authors he was the brother and successor
of Khufu, but it is more commonly accepted that Djedefra was Khufu's successor
and Khafra was successor to Djedefra.
There is no agreement on the date of his reign, although some authors
say it was between 2558 BC and 2532 BC; this dynasty is commonly dated
ca. 2650 BC–2480 BC. He built the second largest pyramid at Giza, the
Great Sphinx and a temple, which is the only surviving example of a temple
of the period of the Old Kingdom.
His name, Khaf-Ra, means "of the crown of Ra" or "rise Ra!" the hieroglyphic
representing his name includes a crown.
It is believed that the Sphinx was carved in his image to guard the Giza
Plateau Pyramids. It sits at the end of the causeway to his pyramid, and
is a symbol of the powerful sun god.
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