Standing proudly on the Giza Plateau, the Pyramid of Khafre is the second-largest of the three great pyramids of Giza.
Built during Egypt's Fourth Dynasty, it belonged to King Khafre, the son of King Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Khafre ruled approximately between 2558 and 2532 BC.
One of the most fascinating features of Khafre's pyramid is its appearance. From certain viewpoints, it seems almost as tall as the Great Pyramid.
The reason is its location: Khafre's pyramid was constructed on higher ground. In reality, its original height was approximately 143.5 meters (471 feet), making it slightly shorter than Khufu's Great Pyramid, which originally reached about 146.5 meters.
The Casing Stones at the Summit
Khafre's pyramid is especially recognizable because part of its original smooth limestone casing remains at the top.
These high-quality limestone blocks came from the quarries of Tura, south of modern Cairo, and were transported to Giza by boat. The polished casing once covered the entire pyramid, giving it a brilliant, smooth exterior very different from the rough stone surface visible today.
A Pyramid Complex, Not Just a Pyramid
Khafre's monument was part of a much larger funerary complex.
It included a mortuary temple, a valley temple, and a long causeway connecting the different parts of the complex. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities notes that Khafre's temples are among the largest and best-preserved examples from Egypt's Old Kingdom.
The Valley Temple was built from enormous limestone blocks and featured granite casing and alabaster flooring. Several statues of the king once stood in niches within the temple. One of the most famous is the magnificent diorite statue of Khafre protected by the falcon god Horus, now held in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Khafre and the Great Sphinx
Khafre's pyramid complex has another extraordinary connection: the Great Sphinx.
The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities states that archaeological evidence points to the Sphinx having been carved during Khafre's reign. The Sphinx and its temple stand directly beside Khafre's Valley Temple and the lower section of the causeway leading toward his pyramid.
The Sphinx therefore forms an important part of the archaeological landscape surrounding Khafre's pyramid.
A Monument That Still Commands Attention
More than four thousand years after Khafre's reign, his pyramid remains one of the most recognizable monuments of ancient Egypt.
Its elevated position, surviving limestone casing, massive temples, and association with the Great Sphinx make the Pyramid of Khafre a remarkable part of the Giza Plateau.
It is not simply the second pyramid at Giza—it is the centerpiece of an enormous royal complex that reveals the extraordinary architectural ambitions of Egypt's Old Kingdom.