Old Kingdom Egypt - Fourth Dynasty

Fourth Dynasty Pharaohs

Sneferu, 2613 - 2589 B.C.

The first king of the 4th Dynasty was an active military leader. His campaigns against the Nubians and the Libyans are recorded on the Palermo Stone. He began trade with the Mediterranean nations and initiated a series of construction projects throughout Egypt. To supply Egypt with timber, he sent a fleet of forty ships to Lebanon. While there, he erected monuments to commemorate the event.

He built his mortuary complex at Dashur, including the Meidum Pyramid (although some believe this was constructed by Huni), the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid. The bent pyramid is thought to be an architectural link between the Step Pyramid and the true pyramids.

Khufu (Cheops), 2589 - 2566 B.C.

Khufu was the second king of the 4th Dynasty and was the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Khufu was succeeded by Radjedef, his son by a lessor wife, whose reign was abruptly ended. He was succeeded by Khephren, his son by Queen Henutsen. A miniature statue of Khufu is on display at the Cairo Museum. This is the only likeness of him known to be in existence. Little else is known of his reign, but the Great Pyramid not only attests to his power but also indicates the administrative skills the bureaucracy had gained.

Khafre (Chephren), 2558 - 2532 B.C.

The fourth king of the 4th Dynasty was Khafre (Chephren), the son of Khufu, and is responsible for the construction of the Pyramid of Khafre at Giza, the second largest of the pyramids. Some historians argue that he also constructed the Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau.

	Fourth Dynasty Pharaohs

	Sneferu, 2613 - 2589 B.C. The first king of the 4th Dynasty was an active military leader. His campaigns against the Nubians and the Libyans are recorded on the Palermo Stone. He began trade with the Mediterranean nations and initiated a series of construction projects throughout Egypt. To supply Egypt with timber, he sent a fleet of forty ships to Lebanon. While there, he erected monuments to commemorate the event. He built his mortuary complex at Dashur, including the Meidum Pyramid (although some believe this was constructed by Huni), the Bent Pyramid, and the Red Pyramid. The bent pyramid is thought to be an architectural link between the Step Pyramid and the true pyramids.







	Khufu (Cheops), 2589 - 2566 B.C. Khufu was the second king of the 4th Dynasty and was the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Khufu was succeeded by Radjedef, his son by a lessor wife, whose reign was abruptly ended. He was succeeded by Khephren, his son by Queen Henutsen. A miniature statue of Khufu is on display at the Cairo Museum. This is the only likeness of him known to be in existence. Little else is known of his reign, but the Great Pyramid not only attests to his power but also indicates the administrative skills the bureaucracy had gained.






	Khafre (Chephren), 2558 - 2532 B.C. The fourth king of the 4th Dynasty was Khafre (Chephren), the son of Khufu, and is responsible for the construction of the Pyramid of Khafre at Giza, the second largest of the pyramids. Some historians argue that he also constructed the Great Sphinx on the Giza Plateau.