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Timeline › 4th Dynasty

Khafre c. 2558–2532 BC

Khafre (Chephren) built the second pyramid of Giza. The Great Sphinx beside his causeway is thought to have his face.

Birth name: Khafre

ḫꜥ.f-rꜥ: “He appears like Ra”

Sign by sign

  1. Sun N5rꜥ The sun, the sun god Ra; day.
  2. Sun rising over a hill N28ḫꜥ To appear in glory, to rise (of the sun and of kings).
  3. Horned viper I9f The sound f; also means 'he, his'.
Now draw this cartouche yourself

Names of gods (Ra, Amun, Ptah) are written first out of respect, even when they are read later. Dates are approximate; we follow Ian Shaw (ed.), The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000).