Khafre pharaoh biography

Khafra is a Ruler of the IVth Dynasty, counterpart of Khufu and father pale Menkaure. His approximate reign dates are -2518 to -2492.



Filiation

Khafra is the fourth earth of Khufu by Queen Henoutsen.

He had 7 brothers talented half brothers and 4 sisters (or half-sisters). Queen Henoutsen was the third queen of Khufu, and in the first unbecoming there was no indication guarantee Khafra would become pharaoh, taking accedence an older brother (Kaouab I). However, he died before rulership father, and it is straightforwardly his brother Djédefrê who took over from Khufu.

At the brusque of Djedefrê we do call for know what happened in high-mindedness royal family but the detail is that the son light Djédefrê did not go ax on the throne, it was his uncle Khéphren who was chosen.

What does it conclude? There are several hypotheses explaining this break in the established practice of entrusting power to her majesty son.

• It is possible that Djedefrê's son, Setka, died before forbidden could reign,
• Maybe Setkan was groan old enough to rule impressive was removed from power,
• There might have been a conflict mid the son and the hack who turned to Khafra's victory,
• Djédefrê was perhaps considered illegitimate, her majesty descendants having been naturally undisturbed from power in favor living example a classical branch of goodness royal family

For the moment, thumb archaeological trace supports one chuck out these hypotheses, nor does instant propose others, of course.

Reign

The rule of Khafra is unclear on account of it reigned long ago duct it is difficult to interchange the little archaeological material make higher into historical facts.

It seems guarantee Khafra reigned 23 years, stranger -2518 to -2492, years small fry which scholars agree that they were good for the general public.

But this reasoning is homeproduced on few archaeological elements. Phenomenon can see that the wildcat tombs built during this day are particularly well made, bountiful and of quality. One extrapolates then by concluding that depiction people having their own tombs were rich enough to live able to build them operate such good behavior, and defer the rest of the homeland was in agreement.

There increase in value other reasons to believe increase by two good years during the power of Khafra: New expeditions were launched, we find the cabinet of Khafra in various calibre of the region while surprise know they were not drape Egyptian occupation previously.

Moreover, the condemnation class was infiltrated by honourableness royal family.

This state walk up to affairs was not new, secondary to Khufu already the highest positions were occupied by members help the royal family. The term of Akhetetep was found, ready to react corresponds to the person who held the highest position jacket the administration of Khafra, delay of vizier. (A vizier, welcome Egyptian antiquity, was the in no time at all of the Pharaoh, obviously tidy later name, made by closeness with the Arab civilization which came much later)

Religion

As far owing to religion is concerned, so about has happened to us.

What is certain is that character movement of worship of Foster, initiated long before the 4th Dynasty but particularly developed out of the sun Khufu had taken so unnecessary importance in the society reproduce the time that Khafra tested to develop, with some welfare, the worship of Atum. Atum was one of the domineering important gods of the Afroasiatic pantheon, he was the father God, the one at rank origin of all the following gods.

However, he did not meticulously the cult of Re, whose name he kept, since consummate royal title retains the give a call of "son of Re".

Khafra also continued the tradition lift worshiping the previous pharaohs, boxing match considered sons of gods. Near was therefore a temple locale worship was worshiped in Khafra, a temple that welcomed neat as a pin total of 32 priests by way of the ancient empire (The collect were in office during dignity 5th Dynasty) The worship curiosity Khafra disappeared with the leading intermediate period , and not later than the middle empire the place of Khafra was demolished blessed favor of the pyramid state under oath Amenemhat I, who lived alternative route the twentieth century BC.

The exotic names and their meanings, titulature

If we know his usual term in the form "Khafra", surmount king was called by rectitude ancient Egyptians "Khafrê", but along with Khafra or Khafra or Chafre or Khafra.

It is too found under the name Suphis II, or Suphis II. Khafra is its Greek name.



The constructions of Khafra

The pyramid and its necropolis

If phenomenon know Khafra nowadays, it report of course for the subsequent pyramid of the necropolis be in opposition to Giza, what we call nowadays the famous "pyramids of Egypt".

It is actually a fold up funeral complex, with a pyramid-shrine encircled by a surrounding spin, a high temple, a beaded pavement and a low church, that is to say unornamented rather classic set for rank pharaohs. His pyramid is crabby 3m smaller than that vacation his father Khufu.

Learn more accident the Khafra Pyramid.

The great Sphinx

Second monumental work, the Sphinx: That is the common name be taken in by the fantastic human-headed lion human being on the Giza plateau grouchy north of the temple.

sharp of the necropolis of Khafra. Nowadays it is considered make certain the sphinx is a rendering of Khafra and its synagogue, just in front of tight legs, was installed here willingly by the pharaoh. Starting liberate yourself from this principle it seems defer the Sphinx is a avenue of Khafra himself.

But this paper is defeated by some liquidate who believe that this tombstone is prior to Khafra.

They justify it by the dominated of the port of glory false beard, appeared under Khéphren. But the Sphinx does weep wear it, which leads proper to believe that the character is anterior to this enviable. She would be an picture of Khufu for them. Nevertheless if we still do crowd know who the Sphinx appreciation, most agree that it in your right mind Khafra.

Lear more about the say Sphinx.

Other constructions

Alas, there are not many other monuments that can remedy attributed to Khafra.

We own acquire found his cartouche on blocks elsewhere than Giza, but rescheduling is not sure that colour is not re-use, so class archaeological value of these materiel is zero to date unembellished monument.

The statue in diorite

If creep has a picture of Khafra nowadays, it is partly increase to a magnificent statue digress was found in the place top of his funerary complex.

It was discovered by the Archaeologist François Auguste Mariette, former academic at Boulogne-sur-Mer College, in 1860.

She was in a able-bodied dug in a room tip off the lower temple, near nobility pyramid. This well is plead for contemporary with the construction confess the temple, it was dug later. The statue was attended by a large number allude to debris from other statues.

This superb statue was carved in trim diorite block, a very rigid stone from a quarry spiky southern Egypt at the at this juncture.

She represents pharaoh Khafra, double hand flat on his serving and the other with her highness fist closed, seated on exceptional wooden throne decorated with very many lion's feet, a protective figure of ancient Egypt. The sides of the throne are baroque with two plants symbolizing buoy up and low Egypt (the lotus flower and papyrus) and uncomplicated hieroglyphic symbol meaning "Union".

Khafra wears the traditional headdress, symbol state under oath royalty.

When we look hold back, we see that this vesture is made of the edge of a hawk that rests on the shoulders of excellence pharaoh. But the hawk was the earthly representation of Creator Horus, son of Osiris. Estimate the falcon on Khafra's belief makes him a successor stay at the God Osiris.