2613–2589 BCE
4th Dynasty of Egypt
2613–2494 BCE
The 4th Dynasty is the age of the great pyramids. Sneferu built at Meidum and Dahshur, moving from stepped to true pyramid forms, and his son Khufu raised the Great Pyramid at Giza. Khafre and Menkaure completed the Giza plateau, where the Sphinx is usually associated with Khafre.
The scale of these projects points to a highly organised state able to mobilise labour, quarry stone and supply large work forces. Later Greek and Egyptian stories about tyrannical builder-kings are not contemporary evidence.
- Period
- Old Kingdom
- Dates
- 2613–2494 BCE
- Rulers profiled
- 6
Rulers of the 4th Dynasty
Best-known rulers: Sneferu; Khufu; Djedefre; Khafre; Menkaure. Every ruler profile in the archive for this dynasty, in the order used by the chronology. Each name links to a full profile with dates, background, sources and illustrations.
2589–2566 BCE
2566–2558 BCE
2558–2532 BCE
2532–2503 BCE
2503–2498 BCE
Major monuments
- Meidum, Bent and Red Pyramids
- Great Pyramid
- Abu Rawash
- Giza and Sphinx
Key events
- Sinai and Nubian expeditions
- Levantine links.
Reading the evidence
Later stories about tyrannical kings are not contemporary evidence.
Sources: Metropolitan Museum; UCL Digital Egypt; Shaw (2000). See the full bibliography.