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The Pyramid of Khafre or of Chephren is Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh Khafre (Chefren),
the second-tallest and second-largest of who ruled from c. 2558 to 2532 BC.
the Ancient Egyptian Pyramids of Giza and The pyramid has a base length of 215.5 m
the tomb of the Fourth-Dynasty pharaoh (706 ft) and rises up to a height of 136.4
Khafre (Chefren), who ruled from c. 2558 to metres (448 ft). It is made of limestone
2532 BC. blocks weighing more
The pyramid has a base than 2 tons each. The
length of 215.5 m (706 ft) and slope of the pyramid
rises up to a height of 136.4 rises at a 53° 13’ angle,
metres (448 ft). It is made of Pyramid of steeper than its neigh-
limestone blocks weighing bor, the Pyramid of Khu-
more than 2 tons each. The Khafre fu, which has an angle
slope of the pyramid rises at of 51°50’24”. Khafre’s
a 53° 13’ angle, steeper than pyramid sits on bedrock
its neighbor, the Pyramid of 10 m (33 ft) higher than
Khufu, which has an angle of Khufu’s pyramid, which
51°50’24”. Khafre’s pyramid makes it appear to be
sits on bedrock 10 m (33 ft) taller. Like the Great
higher than Khufu’s pyramid, which makes Pyramid, a rock out-
it appear to be taller. cropping was used in the core. Due to the
Like the Great Pyramid, a rock outcropping slope of the plateau, the northwest corner
was used in the core. Due to the slope of was cut 10 m (33 ft) out of the rock subsoil
the plateau, the northwest corner was cut and the southeast corner is built up.
10 m (33 ft) out of the rock subsoil and the The pyramid is built
southeast corner is built up. of horizontal cours-
The pyramid is built of horizontal courses. es. The stones used
The stones used at the bottom are very at the bottom are
large, but as the pyramid rises, the stones very large, but as
become smaller, becoming only 50 cm (20 the pyramid rises,
in) thick at the apex. The courses are rough the stones become
and irregular for the first half of its height smaller, becoming
but a narrow band of regular masonry is only 50 cm (20 in)
clear in the midsection of the pyramid. At thick at the apex.
the northwest corner of the pyramid, the The courses are
bedrock was fashioned into steps. Casing rough and irregular
stones cover the top third of the pyramid, for the first half of
but the pyramidion and part of the apex its height but a na -
are missing. The Pyramid of Khafre or of row band of regular masonry is clear in the
Chephren is the second-tallest and sec- midsection of the pyramid. At the north-
ond-largest of the Ancient Egyptian Pyra- west corner of the pyramid, the bedrock
mids of Giza and the tomb of the was fashioned into steps. Casing stones