The sun, the Ancient Egyptian god Ra, is hidden by the immense bulk of the pyramid of Pharaoh Khafra (Chephren) c.2566-2558 BC. The pyramid is 143m (470 ft) high and built with great precision. It is unique of the pyramids in having a single huge guardian statue of a human headed lion, the Sphinx.

Theories abound for the Egyptians' penchant for large stone pyramids during a relatively short 300 year period in the 3rd to 5th Dynasties. One is that the pyramid tomb was a metaphor in stone for the oft seen streaming crepuscular rays of the sun god Ra. Perhaps. However, as here, crepuscular rays can appear to stream in any direction depending on the relative positions of the eye, the cloud and the sun.