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Cast of an architrave with the name of Khafre

Object(s) photograph: Site: Giza; View: Khafre Pyramid Temple

Modern cast of a red granite architrave inscribed for King Khafre in the Fourth Dynasty, probably originally from the court of his pyramid temple at Giza. The cartouche reads, "The King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Khafre, son of Re."

Details

  • ID
    MMA_N.A.1999.4.1
  • Department
    Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
  • Classification
    Reproductions & paintings
  • Findspot
    Probably originally from Khafre's pyramid temple at Giza; reused in the pyramid of Amenemhat I at Lisht
  • Material
    Fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin, paint
  • Credit Line
    MMA, Artist: Wayne Moseley
  • Period
    Modern
  • Object owned by
    Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Notes
    The court of Khafre's pyramid temple at Giza was surrounded by a series of doorways and wide piers. This architrave would have bridged two piers so that the horizontal cartouche of Khafre surmounted a doorway. Flanking crowned falcons are the topmost elements of the king's vertically oriented Horus name, which continued onto the pier below. At the outer edges may be seen traces of the wings of flying falcons, which appeared at either side of statues of the king inset into the piers. More than five hundred years later, the architrave was reused in the entrance corridor of the pyramid of Amenemhat I (Dynasty 12, ca. 1970 B.C.) at Lisht; and probably on that occasion its inscription was deliberately damaged. The original architrave remains there, so deep within the structure that it cannot be removed.

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