A son of Khufu, Khafre built the second pyramid on the Giza Plateau. It is slightly smaller than his father’s; part of its original limestone casing survives near the summit.
His complex has a mortuary temple against the pyramid, a causeway, and a valley temple sheathed in granite with a calcite floor, where Auguste Mariette found statues of the king in 1858. Beside it lies the Great Sphinx, carved from the bedrock and usually attributed to Khafre, though other attributions have been proposed.
Source note: Wikipedia, “Pyramid of Khafre” and “Great Sphinx of Giza” (reference works consulted); reign dates from “Fourth Dynasty of Egypt” and approximate.
Key achievements
- Built the second pyramid at Giza, which still keeps part of its casing near the top.
- The Great Sphinx is usually attributed to his reign.
- His valley temple, sheathed in granite with a calcite (Egyptian alabaster) floor, still stands beside the Sphinx.
