Khufu facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Khufu |
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| Cheops, Suphis, Chnoubos, Sofe | |
Statue of Khufu in the Cairo Museum
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| Pharaoh | |
| Reign | 2589–2566 BC (63 years according to Manetho); (23 or 46 years according to modern historians) (4th Dynasty) |
| Predecessor | Sneferu |
| Successor | Djedefre |
| Consort | Meritites I, Henutsen, Rekhetre ? |
| Children | Kawab, Djedefhor, Hetepheres II, Meritites II, Meresankh II, Baufra, Djedefra, Minkhaf I, Khafre, Khufukhaf I, Babaef I, Horbaef, Nefertiabet, possibly Khamerernebty I, possibly Nefermaat II |
| Father | Pharaoh Sneferu |
| Mother | Queen Hetepheres I |
| Born | Unknown |
| Died | 2566 BC |
| Monuments | Great Pyramid of Giza, Khufu ship |
Khufu, also known as Khnum Khufu, was an ancient Egyptian king. The Greeks called him Cheops. He was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. This was during the first part of the Old Kingdom, around 2600 BC. Khufu became king after his father, Sneferu. He is most famous for ordering the building of the Great Pyramid of Giza. This pyramid is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. However, not much else is known about his time as king.
The only complete picture we have of Khufu is a small, three-inch tall ivory statue. It was found in a temple ruin in Abydos in 1903. Other pictures and statues of him are only found in pieces. Many buildings from Khufu's time are now lost. Most of what we know about Khufu comes from writings in his necropolis (a large ancient cemetery) at Giza. Later, ancient Egyptian and Greek historians also wrote about him.
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Khufu's Time as King
It is not clear how long Khufu ruled Egypt. Old documents give different numbers. The Turin King List, from a much later time (the 19th dynasty), says Khufu ruled for 23 years. The ancient historian Herodotus wrote that Khufu ruled for 50 years. Another historian, Manetho, even said 63 years. Today, experts think these longer numbers are probably too high. They might be exaggerated or based on mistakes in old writings.
We have only a few clues about what Khufu did in Egypt and outside of it. Inside Egypt, Khufu is mentioned in several building writings and on statues. His name appears in writings at Elkab and Elephantine. It is also found in local quarries at Hatnub and Wadi Hammamat.
At Saqqara, two clay figures of the goddess Bastet were found. Khufu's Horus name is written on their bases. Khufu is also shown in several relief carvings. These pieces were found in his burial area and other places. All these carvings were made from smooth, polished limestone.
In the Wadi Maghareh in Sinai, there is a rock carving showing Khufu wearing the double crown. Khufu sent groups of people to find turquoise and copper in mines there. Khufu also had connections with Byblos. He sent trips to Byblos to trade copper tools and weapons for valuable Lebanese Cedar wood. This wood was very important for building large, strong boats for burials. The boats found near the Great Pyramid were indeed made from this type of wood.
Khufu's Name and Beliefs
Khufu's name was connected to the earth god Khnum. This might mean that Khnum became more popular and important during Khufu's rule. In fact, some royal and religious titles started during his time. These titles might show that Egyptian pharaohs wanted to highlight their special connection to the gods. They did this by linking their official names to certain gods.
Khufu may have seen himself as a divine creator. The king linked Khnum's name with his own. Khufu's full name, Khnum-khufu, means "Khnum protect me".
Khufu's Family and Connections
Khufu had a very large royal family. It is not completely certain if Khufu was the biological son of Sneferu. Most Egyptologists believe Sneferu was his father. This is because later historians wrote that the oldest son or a chosen family member would become king. In 1925, the tomb of Queen Hetepheres I was found near Khufu's pyramid. It had many valuable items. Some writings in the tomb called her Mut-nesut (meaning "mother of a king") and mentioned King Sneferu.
At first, it seemed clear that Hetepheres was Sneferu's wife and Khufu's mother. But recently, some experts have wondered if this is true. Hetepheres was not called Hemet-nesut (meaning "king's wife"). This title was usually needed to confirm a queen's royal status.
Instead, Hetepheres had a new title: Sat-netjer-khetef. This means "daughter of his divine body" or "king's bodily daughter". Because of this, some researchers now think Khufu might not have been Sneferu's biological son. Instead, Sneferu might have made Khufu's position as king stronger through marriage. By calling his mother the daughter of a living god, Khufu's new royal rank was made secure. This idea might be supported by where Khufu's mother was buried. She was buried near her son, not in her husband's burial ground, which would have been expected.
Key Family Members
Here are some family members who are definitely connected to Khufu:
Parents:
- Sneferu: Most likely his father, or possibly his stepfather. He was a famous pharaoh who built three pyramids.
- Hetepheres I: Most likely his mother. She was the wife of King Sneferu. Many valuable items were found in her tomb at Giza.
Spouses:
- Meritites I: Khufu's first wife.
- Henutsen: Khufu's second wife. Her name is on the famous Inventory Stela.
Brothers and Sisters:
- Hetepheres: Wife of Ankhhaf.
- Ankhhaf: The oldest brother. His nephew would later become Pharaoh Khafra.
- Nefermaat: Half-brother. He was buried at Meidum. He owned the famous "mastaba of the geese."
- Rahotep: An older brother or half-brother. He owned a life-size statue of himself and his wife, Nofret. This statue is in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
Sons of Khufu:
- Kawab: Most likely the oldest son and crown prince. He died before Khufu, so he did not become king.
- Djedefra: Also known as Radjedef. He became the first king after Khufu.
- Khafre: Most likely the second king after Khufu.
- Djedefhor: Also known as Hordjedef. He is mentioned in the Papyrus Westcar.
- Baufra: Possibly a son of Khufu. However, there is no proof from his time or from archaeological finds. He is only known from two much later documents.
- Babaef I: Also known as Khnum-baef I.
- Khufukhaf I: Also known as Kaefkhufu I.
- Minkhaf I.
- Horbaef.
Daughters:
- Nefertiabet: Known for her beautiful stone carvings.
- Hetepheres II: Wife of Prince Kawab. She later married Pharaoh Djedefra.
- Meresankh II.
- Meritites II: Married to Akhethotep.
- Khamerernebty I: Wife of King Khafra and mother of Menkaura.
Grandchildren:
- Duaenhor: Son of Kawab and possibly the oldest grandchild.
- Kaemsekhem: Second son of Kawab.
- Mindjedef: Also known as Djedefmin.
- Djaty: Son of Horbaef.
- Iunmin I: Son of Khafre.
Nephews and Nieces:
- Hemiunu: He was in charge of building Khufu's Great Pyramid.
- Nefertkau III: Daughter of Meresankh II.
- Djedi: Son of Rahotep and Nofret.
- Itu: Son of Rahotep and Nofret.
- Neferkau: Son of Rahotep and Nofret.
- Mereret: Daughter of Rahotep and Nofret.
- Nedjemib: Daughter of Rahotep and Nofret.
- Sethtet: Daughter of Rahotep and Nofret.
Khufu in Pop Culture
Because he is so famous, Khufu appears in many modern stories. This is similar to other famous Egyptian rulers like Akhenaten, Nefertiti, and Tutankhamun. His story is told in movies, novels, and documentaries. Examples include the novel The Mummy! A Tale of the 22nd Century and Roland Emmerich's Stargate film. In Stargate, a device from outer space is found near the pyramids.
Khufu and his pyramid are also part of theories about how the pyramid was built. Some theories suggest that aliens helped build it. They claim Khufu just took over and used the monument. However, these ideas ignore or change what archaeologists have found.
There is even a near-Earth asteroid named after Khufu: 3362 Khufu.
Khufu and his pyramid are mentioned in several computer games. These include Tomb Raider – The Last Revelation and Assassin's Creed Origins. Another example is Duck Tales 2 for the Game Boy. In this game, the player guides Uncle Scrooge through Khufu's pyramid, which is full of traps.
Images for kids
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Ivory idol of Khufu in detail.
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Head of Khufu. Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, c. 2500 BC. State Museum of Egyptian Art, Munich.
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Head of Khufu in ivory displayed in Altes Museum.
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Relief fragment showing Khufu with the Red Crown.
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Map of Khufu's necropolis.
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The Great Pyramid.
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Seal impression of Khufu with the name of his pyramid Akhet-Khufu.
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Cartouche name Chefu in the Abydos King List.
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Bust of Herodotus.
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See also
In Spanish: Keops para niños
