Welcome to our journey into the remarkable life and legacy of King Khufu, the famous pharaoh of ancient Egypt. In this blog post, we will delve into the charming history and extraordinary achievements of this iconic ruler, best known for commissioning the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Join us as we unravel the fascinating tale of King Khufu and the enduring mystery that surrounds his reign.

Who was King Khufu?

King Khufu was the second king of the Fourth Dynasty and the builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza Plateau, the largest building of that time. He is the son of King Senefru and Queen Hetepheres I. The Turin Papyrus mentioned that he ruled for about 23 years. 

King Khufu

How is Khufu’s name related to the Egyptian god Khnum?

Khufu’s full name was Khnum-khufwy, while Khufu is the nickname. This was after the god Khnum, one of the earliest-known deities in ancient Egyptian history. Khnum was the guardian of the source of the river Nile and the creator of human children. As his prominence grew, ancient Egyptian parents began to give their children theophoric names relating to him. As such, the young Khufu’s full name means: “Khnum is my Protector”, while the Greeks called him Suphis or Cheops.

Khnum’s Legacy

King Khufu’s Family

King Khufu married his half-sister Meritites I, who appears to have been highly favored by both Khufu and Sneferu. She was the mother of Khufu’s eldest son, Crown Prince Kawab, and possibly his second son and first successor, Djedefre.

He had another wife called Henutsen, who may have also been his half-sister, though little is known about her life. She was the mother of at least two princes, Khufukhaf and Minkhaf, and both queens are thought to be buried in the Queen’s Pyramid Complex.

Khufu’s children include 9 sons and 6 daughters, including Djedefra and Khafre, who would both become pharaohs following his death.

 

Egypt’s Mining Industry During Khufu’s Reign

Khufu developed the mining industry in Egypt, especially both construction materials and precious materials like copper and turquoise. At the site of Wadi Maghareh, known to the ancient Egyptians as the ‘Terraces of Turquoise’, impressive reliefs of the pharaoh have been found.

His name also features in inscriptions at quarries such as Hatnub, where Egyptian alabaster was quarried, and Wadi Hammamat, where Basalts and gold-containing quartz were quarried. Limestone and granite were also quarried in vast amounts for a rather large building project he was working on.

 

The Great Pyramid of Giza & Khufu’s Greatest Legacy

Built over around 27 years, the Great Pyramid is undoubtedly Khufu’s greatest legacy. It is the largest Pyramid in Giza complex, and beside it, you will find Kharfe pyramid and Menkaure Pyramid. It was built as a tomb for the great pharaoh, who named it Akhet-Khufu (horizon of Khufu). Measuring 481 feet tall, Khufu chose a natural plateau for his vast Pyramid so that it could be seen from far and wide. For nearly 4 millennia, it was the tallest building on the planet until peculiarly being surpassed by Lincoln Cathedral in 1311. Today, it remains the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World that is still in existence. 

Khufu’s Masterpiece

Claim of using Slavery in building the Pyramid

Herodotus accused King Khufu of being cruel to the people, and he had enslaved the Egyptians and forced them to construct his Pyramid. The opinion of Herodotus could be wrong and not correct because of the following points of view:

At the time of Khufu, the king was regarded as a representation of god upon earth. So, it was believed by the people that when they participated in the building of the Pyramid, they would gain the satisfaction of the gods. This resembles nowadays in the countryside when the people contribute to building churches and mosques.

The Pyramid has economic importance. This is because it provided job opportunities for the people during the inundation season when the Nile floods water covers the agricultural lands, and there are no works in the fields.

It is clearly known that hard labor does not produce such wonderful buildings as the Pyramid. 

It was proved that towns were established for the pyramid builders. They were provided with medical care and food, which indicates that they were treated in a good way, not as enslaved people.  

The Famous Statuette of King Khufu

· The figurine is made out of ivory and is about 7.5 cm tall.

· It had been found in the temple of Khentiamentiyo at Abydos by Petri in 1903.

· This statuette is important because it is the only found statue of the king. 

King Khufu – Majestic King

Description of the Statuette:

It represents the king sitting on his throne. Upon his head, the Crown of Lower Egypt, the Red Crown, called dSrt. He is having the short kilt Sndyt, and he is holding the nhh flail. He is shown with a full round face, remarkable eyebrows, wide eyes, a delicate nose, high cheekbones and a calm mouse.

On the right side of the throne, there is Horus’s name, which is the name of the king. On the left side, there is the cartouche, but it was demolished.

At the time of discovering this figurine, the head was found first. After three weeks, the body was found united with the head.

there is an opinion that mentions that this figurine was made in the 26th Dynasty, not in the 4th Dynasty, for the following reasons:

· The cult of the kings of the 4th Dynasty was revived in the 26th Dynasty. Many figurines were made for them and were used as amulets.

· The art of the Old Kingdom appeared again in this period, and it was called the Neo-Memphite School. The artists made statues with the same style as the Old Kingdom.

· The quality of the statuette is not good. This is because numerous statuettes had been made rapidly in the Late Period, so they were not made perfectly. 

Conclusion

King Khufu remains one of ancient Egypt’s most famous pharaohs, remembered primarily for the colossal Pyramid built during his reign. His reign, like the Great Pyramid, is a testament to ancient Egypt’s organizational and architectural achievements. In addition, his story serves as a reminder of how the deeds of a single leader can echo through millennia, indelibly inscribed in stone and memory.