Khafrre

Khafre was a pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, reigning during the Old Kingdom. He is best known for his association with the Great Sphinx of Giza and his pyramid at Giza, which is the second-largest of the three main pyramids there. The pyramid of Khafre is distinct for retaining some of its original casing stones at the apex, giving it a somewhat different appearance than the others.

Khafre's reign is generally dated to around 2558–2532 BC. He was the son of Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid, and the father of Menkaure, who built the third-largest pyramid at Giza. Khafre's mortuary complex at Giza includes his pyramid, a valley temple, a mortuary temple, and a causeway connecting the two temples. The Valley Temple is particularly notable for its monumental architecture and the surviving statues of Khafre found within it.

The association of Khafre with the Great Sphinx is a widely held scholarly theory, although not definitively proven by contemporary inscriptions. The Sphinx, a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human, is believed by many to represent Khafre himself, guarding his pyramid complex. The exact purpose and meaning of the Sphinx remain subjects of ongoing research and debate. Khafre's reign represents a significant period in the development of Egyptian monumental architecture and royal ideology.