Khufu

Khufu

Khufu was the 4th Dynasty Pharaoh of Egypt. He was well known for the pyramids that he had built, but most well known for being the first Pharaoh to build a pyramid in Giza, known as the Great Pyramid of Giza. It is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Khufu was known as the “Father of Pyramid Building” (http://www.guardians.net/egypt/khufu.htm). Khufu was the son of another great pyramid builder, King Kneferu. His mother’s name was Queen Hetepheres. Khufu’s full name was Khnum-Khufwy, which means ‘(the god) Khnum protect me’ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/khufu.shtml).

Khufu was believed to have three wives. He came to the throne probably during his twenties and immediately began to work on his pyramid. Only a very small ivory statue of 9 cm has been found depicting this historic ruler. It was not found in Giza near the pyramid, but was found to the south at the Temple of Osiris at Abydos, the ancient necropolis (http://www.guardians.net/egypt/khufu.htm). See picture below.


Khufu was known to be a cruel and ruthless ruler. http://www.guardians.net/egypt/khufu.htm. The Greek historian Herodotus describes Khufu as a cruel and wicked leader who prostituted his daughter when he ran short of money. However, the Westcar Papyrus describes Khufu as a traditional oriental monarch: good-natured, amiable to his inferiors and interested in the nature of human existence and magic.http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/khufu.shtml.

Khufu was remembered for being a hard tyrant, a quality which was a prerequisite for building the gigantic pyramid. He was preceded by Snefu, his father, and succeeded by Redjedef, his son. (http://lexicorient.com/e.o/khufu.htm).

Of course, whether or not he was a cruel ruler, he did command a tremendous ability to organize and mobilize workers. There was an extremely large amount of manpower necessary to build the Great pyramid and its surrounding complex and tombs. Certainly Khufu would have had the benefit of witnessing the previous pyramid projects of his father, Sneferu. http://www.guardians.net/egypt/khufu.htm. The Great Pyramid stands witness to the ability of Khufu to lead and coordinate his people. The entire project took about 23 years to complete, during which time 2,300,000 building blocks, weighing an average of 2.5 tons each, were moved. His nephew Hemiunu was appointed head of construction for the Great Pyramid. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/khufu.shtml. It is now believed the pyramids were built using conscripted labor rather than slaves. The idea that Khufu used slaves to build the pyramid comes from Greek historian Herodotus. He also describes Khufu Despite not being remembered as fondly as his father, the funerary cult of Khufu was still followed in the 26th Dynasty, and he became increasingly popular during the Roman period. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/khufu.shtml.

The pyramid has an original height of over 480 feet tall, and it stands as one of the world’s greatest, unexplained accomplishments. To this day, the actual movement and placement of the stones is considered a mystery. http://www.mybrotha.com/khufu.asp.