Kefrén

Kefrén, also known by his Hellenized name Khephren, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom period. He reigned for approximately 26 years, from around 2558 BC to 2532 BC. Kefrén is famously known as the builder of the second-largest pyramid at Giza, the Pyramid of Kefrén. This colossal structure is a prominent feature of the Giza pyramid complex and is often mistaken for the Great Pyramid of Giza due to its size and slightly higher elevation.

The Pyramid of Kefrén is unique among the Giza pyramids for retaining a portion of its original casing stones at its apex, giving it a distinctive cap. His pyramid complex also includes a mortuary temple, a valley temple, and a causeway connecting them. The Valley Temple of Kefrén, located near the Sphinx, is particularly notable for its impressive granite construction and the discovery of several statues of the pharaoh within it.

Kefrén is also widely credited with the Great Sphinx of Giza, a monumental statue with the body of a lion and the head of a human, believed to represent the pharaoh himself. While direct inscriptions explicitly naming Kefrén as the builder of the Sphinx are absent, the proximity of the Sphinx to Kefrén's pyramid complex and stylistic similarities in art have led to this strong attribution by Egyptologists. His reign marked a peak in the Old Kingdom's architectural and organizational achievements.