2023

Giza Governorate includes a pyramid of one of the queens of ancient Egypt next to the famous pyramids. Queen Khentkaus is the daughter of King Menkaure. Khentkaus claimed the throne after the death of her brother Shepseskaf, as he had no heir, and royal blood ran through her veins, as her mother and father were royal. Visit the great Giza pyramids to see one of the world's wonders during one of the best Egypt Day Tours.

Khentkaus wrote her titles on the door of her pyramid, including “King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Royal Mother, Daughter of the God, and everything she orders shall be carried out for her sake”. the text shows that she married one of the nobles, but she did not mention his name, because apparently, he was not of pure royal blood. We note that she called herself “king” and not “queen”, as Hatshepsut did after her in the Eighteenth Dynasty. Discover more secrets about the Egyptian queens when you choose one of Egypt Easter Tours to have an adventure in history.

Khentkaus gave birth to her son “Userkaf”, who became the crown prince. The political situation in the country stabilized, and Khentkaus was the link between the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties. The queen built a pyramid for herself next to the pyramid of her father, King Menkaure, and introduced a new style of pyramidal shape into Egyptian architecture. She made the base of the pyramid square, then built a sarcophagus on top of that square base imitating the tomb of her brother Shepseskaf in Dahshur.

In addition, The base of Khentkaus' pyramid is 45 meters long, and its height is about 35 meters, in which the remains of the queen's sarcophagus were found. In front of the pyramid, Khentkaus built a small city for her priests, whose mud-brick houses still retain their shape. Seize the opportunity and see the art of the Egyptian architecture with Cairo day tours. The text of "Eusebius" described the appearance of Queen Khentkaus, whom Greek historians called "Nitocris", saying that she was the most beautiful of women, blonde with rosy cheeks and that she was the one who built the fourth pyramid.

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Who is Queen Khentkawes, and what is his contribution to Egypt?

Queen Khentkawes, also known as Khentkawes II, was an ancient Egyptian queen who lived during the Old Kingdom period, specifically during the Fourth Dynasty, around 2500 BC. She is known for her significant contributions to Egypt, particularly in the context of her role and her funerary complex.

Title and Role: Queen Khentkawes held the prestigious title of "King's Mother" during the Fourth Dynasty. This title suggests that she was the mother of a pharaoh, although the identity of her son is a subject of debate among Egyptologists.

Funerary Complex: Queen Khentkawes is renowned for the construction of a complex of monuments at Giza, known as the "Funerary Complex of Khentkawes II." This complex is unique in Egyptian history, as it combines elements typically associated with royal funerary complexes and those related to pyramid temples.

Pyramid Complex: The centerpiece of Queen Khentkawes' complex is a large structure known as the "Pyramid of Khentkawes." While smaller in scale than the pyramids of the Pharaohs, it is notable for being one of the few pyramids associated with a queen. This pyramid is often referred to as the "Pyramid of the Queen" and is believed to be her burial place.

Sun Temple: In addition to the pyramid, Queen Khentkawes' complex includes a sun temple known as the "Sun Temple of Khentkawes." Sun temples were dedicated to the sun god Ra and were typically associated with Pharaohs. The presence of a sun temple in a queen's complex is highly unusual.

Statuary and Inscriptions: The complex also contained statuary and inscriptions that celebrated Queen Khentkawes' royal status and her association with the Pharaoh. These inscriptions provide valuable historical and cultural insights.

Funerary Arrangements: The unique combination of elements in Queen Khentkawes' complex has led Egyptologists to propose various theories about her funerary arrangements. Some suggest that she held a particularly powerful and influential role, while others propose that her complex may have served a dual purpose as a memorial temple.

Queen Khentkawes | One of The Egyptian Queens 16 / 5 / 2023