Archaeologists Make Stunning Find: Ancient Tombs Uncovered at the Pyramids of Giza Date Back to Early Dynastic Period – Between 2563 – 2423 BC. These tombs belonged to two esteemed individuals, identified as high-ranking men who served under King Khafre’s priests, shedding light on the ancient past of Saturday. Egypt’s antiquities ministry said one of the men in one of the tombs was named Behnui-Ka, who held seven titles including the Priest and the Judge to the Pharaoh.

The other tomb belonged to another man named Nwi, who served as Chief of the Great Estate and ‘purifier’ of the Khafre. Khafre, also known as Khephren or Chephren to the Ancient Greeks, built the second of the three famous Pyramids of Giza as well as the Sphinx.

‘Many artifacts were discovered in the tombs,’ the ministry said, including limestone statues of one of the tomb’s owner, his wife and son, statues of jackals, as well as hieroglyphs.

Renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, who attended a press conference, told Egypt Today: ‘The whole world is watching this great discovery that dates back to the early dynasty.’

The tombs belonged to two high-ranking men who were part of King Khafre’s priesthood. Their significance was revealed in a press conference about the ancient find on Saturday.

An excavation worker carefully uses a tool inside a burial shaft at the Giza pyramid plateau following the recent discovery of the tombs.

Egypt’s antiquities ministry said one of the men in one of the tombs was named Behnui-Ka, who held seven titles including the Priest and the Judge to the Pharaoh.

This excavation worker carefully brushes dust from the face of the sarcophagus.

The other tomb belonged to another man named Nwi, who served as Chief of the Great Estate and ‘purifier’ of the Khafre.

Another member of the excavation team carefully brushes away sand and debris from the sarcophagus.

‘Many artifacts were discovered in the tombs,’ the ministry said, including limestone statues of one of the tomb’s owners, his wife and son, as well as statues of what appear to be jackals.

Renowned Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, who attended a press conference, told Egypt Today: ‘The whole world is watching this great discovery that dates back to the early dynasty.’

Khafre was an Egyptian king, from the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom in ancient Egypt. He ascended the throne after the death of his elder brother Djedefre, around 2570 BC. He ruled Egypt for 26 years and was succeeded by his son, Menkaure.

Khafre was reportedly succeeded by a king named Bikeris, according to the record of the ancient historian Manetho, but nothing else is known about him. There is no Egyptian inscription or Westcar papyrus documents discovered from an ancient site to tell us more about Khafre. Several artifacts recently discovered clearly indicate that Menkaure was the direct successor of his father.

Khafre was also called Khephren, Khefren, and Chephren, using the local Egyptian language. There is much dispute regarding the reign period of this Pharaoh, as there is nothing clearly written anywhere on this account.

Although the ancient historian Manetho wrote in his records that Khafre’s reign continued for 66 years, modern historians do not accept that fact and believe that he ruled for a little more than 26 years.

Khafre was known to be a cruel and harsh ruler. He closed down many of the temples of Egypt, following the trend started by his father Khufu. The Pyramid built by Khafre is considered to be the second largest of its kind, built in the Giza necropolis. It was named as ‘Wer(en)-Khafre’, in the Egyptian language, which meant ‘Khafre is Great’.

The huge structure, made of Turah limestone blocks, also consists of a valley temple, a mortuary temple, and the Sphinx temple, to support the colossal Great Sphinx of Giza, apart from the main pyramid. Several statues of Khafre are found from the Valley temple, where fragments of inscriptions are found with the Horus name of Khafre on them. The base of the pyramid was made of pink granite slabs, which were arranged one after another, a unique architectural feature that started from the design of this pyramid.