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Ancient Egypt / Old Kingdom / 4th Dynasty /
Khufu
Other spellings: Khufwey, Khnomkhufwey, (Greek:) Cheops
King of Ancient Egypt, 2nd king of the 4th Dynasty of Egypt, ruling 2589-2566 BCE, 23 years.
Little is known of his actual actions, but he is remembered for being the Pharaoh to whom the largest of the pyramids at Giza was erected. It was originally 146.5 metres high. While there is a number of theories on how the work of the Pyramid had been organized, one of the more viable theories, indicate that the workers were free citizens, working here part of the year. It has been suggested that all of Egypt's male population had been involved.
Also to Khufu, a 43 metre long funeral ship, found near his pyramid, is ascribed, as well as another smaller funeral boat. In the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, a tiny statuette from the temple of Abydos, is thought to depict Khufu. It is ironic that the only personal representation of the king building the largest pyramid is only 7.5 cm high.
Khufu was remembered for being a hard tyrant, a quality which was a prerequisite for building the gigantic pyramid.
He was preceded by Snefru, his father, and succeeded by Redjedef, his son.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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