Dr. Zahi Hawass
Khafre
(2576-2551 BCE), fourth King of the fourth dynasty, Old Kingdom. The son
of Khufu, Khafre (or Khephren to the ancient Greeks) is best known as
the owner of the second pyramid at Giza. As with the other Kings of that
dynasty, written records that date to his reign are scarce; even
information on family relationships and the lengths of individual reigns
at that time may often be conjectural. Two of his wives are known:
Meresankh II, the daughter of his brother Kawab, and his chief wife,
Khamerernebty. His eldest son, Menkaure, builder of the third pyramid at
Giza, succeeded him. Two other sons are recognized: Nikaure and
Sekhemkare. His daughter Khamerernebty II became Menkaure’s chief
queen. Khafre succeeded his brother, Djedefre, who had ruled for eight
years. Ideologically, Khafre continued Djedefre’s promotion of the
cult of the sun god re by using the title “ the Son of the Sun” for
himself and by incorporating the name of the god in his own.
Khafre built his pyramid at Giza next to that of his father. His pyramid
complex has survived better than many others, in part because of the
innovative construction method of using massive core blocks of limestone
encased in fine lining slabs. The whole complex served as a temple for
the resurrected god-King after his funeral, with statues incorporated
into the design of both the mortuary and valley temples. There exist
emplacements for more than fifty-four large statues of the King. None of
the statues from the mortuary temple has survived, and it has been
suggested that they were recycled in the New Kingdom.
All the lining slabs were also removed in antiquity, and with them any
inscription and reliefs; only the megalithic core blocks remain.
Khafre’s valley temple, however, is one of the best preserved from
ancient Egypt, Fragments of several statues of the King were discovered
there, including the famous statue of the King seated on a lion throne
with the falcon of the Horus behind his head, reflecting the belief that
the King was a living incarnation of the god. Each of the two entrances
to this temple were once flanked by a pair of sphinxes 8 meters (26
feet) long.
The only remaining inscriptions in the building are around the entrance
doorways; they list the King’s names and titles, those of the goddess
Bastet (north doorway), and those of Hathor (south doorways). Recent
work in front of the valley temple has revealed the location of a ritual
purification tent and two ramps with underground tunnels that extend
toward the valley.
Next to the valley temple, the Great sphinx lies inside its own
enclosure. Its position next to Khafre’s causeway and certain
architectural details indicate that it was an integral part of the
pyramid area; that colossal lion statue with the head of the King,
carved out of a sandstone outcrop, represents Khafre as the god Horus
presenting offerings to the sun god. From the eighteenth dynasty
forward, the Sphinx was a symbol of Kingship and place of pilgrimage;
and a small chapel was erected between its paws.
Political events of Khafre’s reign can be deduced only from scant
archaeological remains and rare inscriptions, which show that his
workmen were exploiting the diorite quarries at Toshka in Nubia and that
expeditions were sent to Sinai. His name was found on a list of other
fourth dynasty Kings at Byblos, implying diplomatic and commercial
links. Like his father Khufu, Khafre was depicted in folk tradition as a harsh, despotic rule: His pyramid complex was used as a quarry in the late New Kingdom, and the lining slabs and statues were removed to adorn other temples and royal establishments. By the Late period, however; the cults of the fourth dynasty kings had been revived, and Giza had become a focus for pilgrimage. |