<P> Khafre's ka statue, which would have been located in the Valley temple of Khafre, was only one part of an extremely intricate system used in Egyptian funerary rituals . Located at the Pyramids of Gizeh, the necropolis included the Valley Temple of Khafre, a mortuary temple, the Great Sphinx, and a causeway leading to the pyramid of Khafre . </P> <P> The Great Pyramids of Gizeh (Pyramids of Giza), located on the outskirts of present day Cairo, are three enormous pyramids for three Egyptian pharaohs with multiple smaller ones, housing the mummies of the royal family and nobles . From largest to smallest, the pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure are the most famous and dedicated to each god, respectively . Khafre's pyramid and tomb were designed as an eternal home for his mummy, where the serdab (chamber room) in the Valley Temple was meant to keep his ka statue . Unlike previous pyramids, such as the Stepped Pyramid of Djoser designed by the first known architect Imhotep, the Great Pyramids of Gizeh were not based upon the mastaba structure, a rectangular structure . The new, smoothly inclined surface of the tomb derives from a rectangular base, which is aligned by the four cardinal directions of the compass . The four sides finish at a pointed tip, referring to the emblem of the sun Re (Ra), called the ben - ben . These symbolic pyramids allowed the pharaoh's spirit to ascend to the heavens using the rays of the sun . </P> <P> The funeral procession carrying the pharaoh's mummy began east of the Nile River, where the sun is reborn every morning and where the Egyptian citizens live . Khafre's mummy would have crossed the Nile River, which was the ribbon of life separating the east from the west . The Nile was extremely important in Egyptian culture, for it provided fertility of the land and represented life for the people who used it . Because of its importance and symbol of life, it was used as part of the procession to bury the pharaoh . Khafre's body would then meet at the west side of the Nile, or the land of the dead . Every night, the sun sets and dies, which is why the western section of the city was dedicated to burying the dead . The horizontal axis of east to west was symbolic to the Egyptians, representing the cycle of life and eternalness of their leaders; every day the sun is born in the east and dies at night in the west, yet is again reborn in the east the next morning . The rhythm of the horizontal axis used in the funeral procession parallels with eternalness of the pharaoh . </P> <P> Once on the west bank of the Nile, Khafre's mummy would travel along the causeway, or pathway, passing by the Valley Temple of Khafre where the Khafre Enthroned statue would be located . Next along the causeway is the Great Sphinx, a creature with a Pharaoh head and cat body carved out of the living / natural rock of the area . Many believe that the face of the sphinx is actually Khafre, further honoring the Pharaoh in the funeral procession . Continuing along the causeway, the mummy and procession enter the Mortuary Temple of Khafre adjoining the pharaoh's pyramid . This is where offerings were made to the deceased pharaoh and further ceremonies performed . Sealing the mummy in the tomb of Khafre's pyramid, where his body and ka would peacefully rest for eternity, completed the funeral ritual . </P>

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