dynasty 4 pyramids

The great pyramids of Giza are dynasty 4 pyramids. Where Amhotep began the stone pyramid construction in dynasty 3, Sneferu built on the existing pyramids and others added to the list of Egyptian pyramids in the fourth dynasty of Egypt.

Pharoah Snefru is the first king of dynasty four which begins around 2613 BC according to the Egyptian priest and historian Manetho. The fourth dynasty remains part of the Old Kingdom .

As with all things in historical perspective there is confusion in accuracy as to who came when and ahead of who as is the case with Sneferu and Huni. It seems however there is no question that Sneferu led Egypt into the fourth dynasty. The Huni pyramid at Meidum is either a product of the Huni reign or the Sneferu reign. The bent pyramid and the red pyramid at Dashur are somehow lost in this same confusion but it seems that Snefru played a major part in the development of these early limestone pyramids.

From Snefru comes Khufu and Khnum most likely mothered by Hetepheres I. However Sneferu was a king god and a ladies man and had several other children with several others consorts or mistresses. Amongst them are Netjerape and Nefermaat.

The bloodline of the fourth dynasty starts out with Sneferu and links into Khufru, then his son Khafra and then Menkaura. In building dynasties an overlord builds relations with neighbours and subdues the ideologies that oppose his empirical reign. A good king also has the ability to move his own people. In the fourth dynasty it seems that these kings able to move the mass workers without having to use tyrannical rule. Again a point debated. Others claim most of the work was carried out by a slave workforce. Most likely it was a balance of both where prisoners provided hard labor while freemasons led the chain.

Regardless from this bloodline of Egyptian god kings or Pharoah we get the Giza dynasty 4 pyramids.

The kings of the fourth dynasty are

1. Sneferu
2. Khufu
3. Djedefra
4. Khafra
5. Menkaura
6. Shepseskaf
7. Djedefptah

To the Greeks Khufu is Cheops, Khafra is Chephren, Menkaura is Mycerinus.

The location of dynasty 4 pyramids at Giza shows a offers a great deal of knowledge about the move away from the Ogdoad creation myth religious cults centered at Hermopolis and a move towards the acceptance of the Heliopolis Ennead or nine gods of creation cults. Giza is at the end of the Heliopolis arrow in the image of the Nile above.

List of dynasty 4 pyramids according to wikipedia

1. Sneferu Endures
2. The southern shining pyramid
3. The shining pyramid
4. Khufu's horizon
5. Djedefre's Starry Skies
6. Khafre is great
7. Sanakht
8. Menkaure is Divine
9. The purified pyramid
10. Khentkawes