The Pyramid of Khafre

The Pyramid of Khafre, also known as the Pyramid of Chefren, is one of the most iconic structures in Egypt and is one of the three pyramids located on the Giza plateau near Cairo. The Pyramid of Khafre is the second largest pyramid at Giza, standing at a height of 143 meters (471 feet). It was built during the Fourth Dynasty of Egypt, around 2500 BC, for the pharaoh Khafre, who ruled from 2558 to 2532 BC. Khafre wanted his pyramid to surpass his father's, the Great Pyramid, and in some ways it does. It sits on higher ground, appears taller due to its steeper angle, and still retains some of its original polished limestone casing at the top, which reflects the sunlight and makes it gleam.​

The pyramid is made up of millions of massive limestone blocks, each weighing an average of over 2 tons; some of which weighed up to 70 tons. It was originally covered in smooth, polished white limestone, which would have made it shine brightly in the sun. However, much of this casing stone has been removed over the centuries, leaving only the rough core structure visible today. Construction is estimated to have taken 26 years and involved tens of thousands of workers. The precision of the construction is astounding, with the sides of the base deviating from a perfect square by only 8 centimeters. The pyramid has a base of 215 meters (705 feet) on each side, which is slightly smaller than the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest pyramid at Giza.

The pyramid was originally surrounded by a complex of temples and smaller pyramids, but most of these structures have been destroyed or buried over time.. It included a mortuary temple, a causeway connecting the pyramid to the valley temple at the Nile's edge, and several smaller subsidiary pyramids for Khafre's queens and other members of the royal family.​

The entrance to the Pyramid of Khafre is located on the north side, about 11 meters (36 feet) above ground level. The entrance leads to a descending corridor that slopes down into the pyramid. The corridor is made of red granite and is lined with deep grooves to allow air to circulate. At the end of the corridor is a subterranean chamber, which was carved out of the bedrock and measures about 8 meters (26 feet) long, 3 meters (10 feet) wide, and 4 meters (13 feet) high. It is thought that this chamber was intended to hold Khafre's sarcophagus, but no trace of it has been found.​

From the subterranean chamber, a passage leads up to the burial chamber, which is located in the heart of the pyramid. The burial chamber is made of granite and measures about 14 meters (46 feet) long, 5 meters (16 feet) wide, and 6 meters (20 feet) high. The chamber was originally covered with a vaulted ceiling made of huge granite blocks, but this has collapsed over time. The burial chamber contained a large red granite sarcophagus, which was found empty when the pyramid was first opened by Arab caliph Al-Ma'mun in the 9th century AD.​

One of the most impressive features of the Pyramid of Khafre is the interior passages and chambers, which are lined with polished granite and feature intricate corbelled ceilings. The walls and ceilings were originally covered in colorful paintings and hieroglyphs, but these have mostly been lost to time.

​Another notable feature of the Pyramid of Khafre is the Sphinx, which is located just to the east of the pyramid. The Sphinx is a large limestone statue of a mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human. It measures 73 meters (240 feet) long and 20 meters (66 feet) high, and is believed to have been built during Khafre's reign. The Sphinx was carved out of the same bedrock as the Pyramid of Khafre and is thought to have served as a symbol of the pharaoh's power and divine status.