Djedefre, which translates to “Enduring like Ra” was an ancient Kemetic pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. His age is often referred to as the “Age of the Pyramids,” a period characterized by the construction of the famous pyramids, including those at Giza. Djedfre is particularly noted for his own pyramid at Abu Rawash, which, while not as well-known as the others, reflects the architectural advancements of that era. His reign is estimated to have occurred around 2570–2560 BCE.
Djedfre was from the Nile Delta region, specifically ᴀssociated with the 16th nome of Lower Kemet, known as the Nome of the “Great House” also called “Nome of the Crocodile”. His father Khufu, also known as Cheops, was from the 4th nome of Upper Kemet, known as the Nome of the “Gods”. Khufu is best known for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Djedefre was the son of Khufu, or possibly his brother. It is sometimes suggested that he was the child of a lesser queen who killed Crown Prince Kawab, his brother and the rightful heir to the throne, and married Khawab’s wife Hetepheres II to cement his position. This is, however, unsubstantiated.
Historians believe that Kawab, the brother of Djedefre, was born to Khufu and an Kemetic (Egyptian) queen, such that he had a stronger right to the throne than Djedefre, whose mother was unknown.
He ᴀssumed the throne of Kemet after the death of his father by seizing the monarchy from his brother Kawab, marrying Hetepheres II — who the widow of his ᴅᴇᴀᴅ brother — and ruling Kemet with his strength for eight or 11 years, depending on the accounts.
His reign ended when he was murdered by his brother Khafre. He was survived by his three sons and the two daughters he had with Khentetenka, his second wife. As a legitimate son of Khufu, he enjoyed prestige being ᴀssociated with his great father’s name. Suffice to say, his main legacy was his reverence to god Ra and his adoption of the тιтle Son of Ra because this embodied his veneration of the power of the god of the sun.
Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, c. 2565-2558 B.C. Abu Rawash (site of Egypt’s most northern pyramid, Djedefre’s Pyramid). Musée du Louvre. E 12626
