Khafre or Chephren (died 2532 BC) was an ancient Egyptian monarch who was the fourth king of the Fourth Dynasty, during the earlier half of the Old Kingdom period ( 2700–2200 BC). He was son of the king Khufu, and succeeded his brother Djedefre to the throne.
Khafre's enormous pyramid at Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre, is surpassed only by his father's (the Great Pyramid). The Great Sphinx of Giza was also built for him, according to some egyptologists, although this remains unconfirmed. Little is known about Khafre aside from the reports of Herodotus, a Greek historian who wrote 2,000 years later.
Family
Khafre was a son of king Khufu and the brother and successor of Djedefre. Khafre may be a son of Queen Henutsen instead.
Khafre had several wives and he had at least 12 sons and 3 or 4 daughters.
Children with Meresankh III
Queen Meresankh III was the daughter of Kawab and Hetepheres II and thus a niece of Khafre.
- Nebemakhet
- Duaenre
- Niuserre
- Khentetka
- Shepsetkau
Children with Hekenuhedjet
- Sekhemkare
Possible children with Khamerernebty I
- Menkaure
- Khamerernebty II
Persenet may have been a wife of Khafre based on the location of her tomb. She was the mother of Nikaure.
Other children of Khafre are known, but no mothers have been identified. Further sons include Ankhmare, Akhre, Iunmin, and Iunre. A daughter named Rekhetre is known and Hemetre may have been a daughter or granddaughter as well. This would imply a reign of 24–25 years for this king if the cattle count was biannual during the Fourth Dynasty.
Pyramid complex
thumb|right|260px|Khafre's Pyramid and the Great Sphinx in 2007
thumb|1910 Drawing of Khafre's pyramid complex. A causeway connected the Valley Temple (bottom-right) to the Pyramid Temple (top-left).
Khafre built the second-largest pyramid at Giza. The Egyptian name of the pyramid was Wer(en)-Khafre which means "Khafre is Great".
Valley Temple
The valley temple of Khafre was located closer to the Nile and would have stood right next to the Sphinx temple. Inscriptions from the entrance way have been found which mention Hathor and Bubastis. Blocks have been found showing the partial remains of an inscription with the Horus name of Khafre (Weser-ib). Mariette discovered statues of Khafre in 1860. Several were found in a well in the floor and were headless. But other complete statues were found as well.
Khafre in ancient Greek traditions
The ancient Egyptian historian Manetho called Khafre "Sûphis II". and credited him with a rulership of 66 years, but didn't make any further comments about him.
Contrary to modern Egyptologists and archaeological findings, Greek historians Diodorus and Herodotus, writing more than 2,000 years after King Khafre, depicted him as a tyrant who had followed his father Khêops on the throne. Herodotus and Diodorus say that Khafre ruled for 56 years.
They describe a king Menkaure (whom they call "Mykerînós") as the follower of Khafre and that this king was the counterpart of his two predecessors: Herodotus describes Menkaure as bringing peace and piety back to Egypt.