Djedefre

Djedefre was a pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, reigning during the Old Kingdom. He was the son of Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza, and the brother of Khafre, who is often credited with the second pyramid at Giza and the Sphinx. Djedefre's reign is estimated to have lasted between 7 to 12 years, likely sometime in the mid-26th century BCE.

His pyramid complex was constructed at Abu Rawash, north of Giza. This site was chosen for reasons that are not entirely clear, but it marked a departure from his father's and brother's burial sites. The pyramid itself is now largely ruined, making detailed analysis challenging. However, evidence suggests it was one of the earliest pyramids to feature a granite casing, and its base dimensions indicate it was intended to be quite large, possibly rivaling that of Khufu.

Djedefre is significant for introducing new artistic conventions. Statuary from his reign shows a more naturalistic and perhaps idealized depiction of the pharaoh, with his bust found at Abu Rawash being a notable example. He also adopted the title "Son of Ra," emphasizing his divine connection to the sun god, a title that became standard for subsequent pharaohs. The reasons for his choice of burial site and the extent of his reign remain subjects of scholarly debate.