King Khufu

The legendary king of Egypt, Khufu, was the son of king Sneferu and Queen Hetepheres. Sneferu was the founder of the fourth dynasty of Egypt. His reign lasted about 23 years from 2589 to 2566 B.C. He ruled in the Old Kingdom of Egypt. Khufu in Greek is Cheops, and is pronounced Keyops. He is known for being the founder for the Great Pyramids at Giza.

King Khufu was known as the Father of the Great Pyramids of Egypt. These pyramids are one of the greatest things man has ever seen. These Pyramids are one of the seven wonders of the world. The Great Pyramids at Giza are the burial chambers for the pharaohs. Before the great pyramids, the pharaohs were buried in small bench-shaped mounds.


Khufu, who ruled 2nd in the fourth dynasty, or family of rulers, acomplished a lot of things as the pharaoh of Egypt. We don't really know for sure how King Khufu created the great pyramids. There were no cranes, so it isn't known for sure how it was done. A suggestion for the way of creating the pyramids was that there were hundreds of guys working, who camped out close by, and for years lifted the blocks of stone for a small salary, until they were completed. King Khufu's tomb was robbed and the body was stolen, so not a lot can be said about him.

In building the Great Pyramids at Giza, King Cheops used workers that probably wouldn't be in any other use during the flooding of the Nile. King Khufu was an expert in Math, Astronomy, Science, and Art. All of these skills are reflected in the Great Pyramids at Giza.

King Khufu had many kids. The kids were Djedefhor, Khumbaef, Merysankh, Minkhaf, Neferma'at, Khamerernebti, Djedef'Aha, and others. His family was divided into two groups. In order to create the Great Pyramids, his daughter had to sell herself to get the necessary money to pay off the workers. It is also said that King Khufu fiddled with magic.

Bunson, Margaret. "Ra'djedef." Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2002. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
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Page, Willie F., and R. Hunt Davis, eds. "Cheops." Encyclopedia of African History and Culture: Ancient Africa (Prehistory to 500 CE), vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2005. Ancient and Medieval History Online. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp?
ItemID=WE49&iPin=AHCI0317&SingleRecord=True (accessed September 15, 2007).