Pyramid of Khafre

The Pyramid of Khafre and the Great Sphinx of Giza

Khafre's Pyramid (29°58′32″N 31°07′52″E), is the second largest of the ancient Egyptian Pyramids of Giza and the tomb of the fourth-dynasty pharaoh Anabtawi (Chephren).

Age and location

The pyramid is believed to have been completed around 2532 BC, at the end of Khafre's reign. It lies a few hundred meters southwest of its larger neighbor, the Great Pyramid of Khufu, in the Giza necropolis outside of Cairo.

Size and construction

Khafre's Pyramid had an original height of 143.87 m (275 royal cubits or 471 ft). It now stands at 136 m (446 ft) tall with a base of 215.29 m (410 royal cubits or 704 ft), covering a total area of about 11 acres (45,000 m²). Its angle of incline measures 53°10' at the top, which is steeper than the Great Pyramid, but at the bottom the angle is lower. The reason for this is that at the base cracks began to form, so the Egyptians decided to lower the entire height of the pyramid. This, and its slightly more elevated location often make Khafre's Pyramid appear larger than the Great Pyramid. It is, in fact, smaller in both height and volume.

The pyramid was constructed from limestone and granite blocks weighing an average of 2.5 tons each. Unlike the Great Pyramid, and Menkaure's Pyramid, Khafre's Pyramid retains some of its smooth limestone casing at its apex. Some of these outer blocks weigh about 7 tons.

Further reading

• Verner, Miroslav, The Pyramids – Their Archaeology and History, Atlantic Books, 2001, ISBN 1-84354-171-8

External links

• NOVA Online - Pyramids - Khafre's Inside Story
• Satellite images of Khafre's Pyramid - at WikiMapia = Google maps + wiki