King Khufu
King Khufu is one of Egypt’s most powerful monarchs of the ancient Egyptian period. During the ancient kingdom of Egypt, he ruled from 2589 to 2566 B.C. (2686-2150 BC). He was the son of King Seneferu and Queen Hetepheres, and he succeeded his father on the Egyptian throne as the fourth dynasty’s second king. He had nine sons and fifteen daughters after marrying two queens named Merities and Henutsen.
History of King Khufu
King Khufu, or King Cheops in Greek, is one of ancient Egypt’s most important kings. He commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the world and a true symbol of ancient Egypt.
His full name, Khnum-Khufu, means “Khnum Protects Me.” Khnum was an ancient Egyptian god of reproduction, water, and fertility with the head of a ram. The only surviving statue of King Khufu is a small 7.5 cm ivory statue found in the city of Abydos. It is now housed in the Grand Egyptian Museum.
King Khufu’s Achievements
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the largest pyramid in the world.
For over 4,000 years, it was the highest edifice on the planet. The Great Pyramid, King Khufu thought, was his ladder to paradise, where he would take his due position among the gods. The Great Pyramid was the first of its sort because the sides were smooth rather than having steps, and the sides precisely matched the cardinal points of a compass.
Because it contained his tomb in the king’s chamber, King Khufu believed the Great Pyramid was his doorway to paradise. The pyramid’s precise architectural design on both the outside and interior remains a real enigma that draws visitors from all over the world to this day.
Controversial Theory about the Great Pyramid
Some people think the Great Pyramid is older than the pharaohs. They believe King Khufu just reused it as a tomb. Mainstream Egyptologists do not support this theory.
Most experts believe Pharaoh Khufu built the pyramid. He ruled during the Fourth Dynasty, around 2600 BC. He ruled for about 27 years. Egyptologists like Mark Lehner and Ahmed Fakhry are sure of this. Lehner states that ancient Egyptians built the Giza pyramids over 85 years. This was between 2589 and 2504 BC.
A papyrus supports this. It’s called the Diary of Merer. It was found at an ancient harbor. An inspector wrote it over 4,500 years ago. He documented the transport of limestone. This limestone came from the Tura quarries. It traveled along the Nile River. The final destination was the Great Pyramid, the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu. In conclusion, experts agree. Khufu’s tomb is the Great Pyramid. It was built around 2600 BC. There is no real evidence to support the older pyramid theory.
King Khufu’s Solar Boat
King Khufu’s solar boat is a unique item in the world. It is one of history’s oldest, largest, and best-preserved monuments, dating back over 4,500 years. The boat is the world’s oldest undamaged ship and a “masterpiece of woodcraft” that could sail today. It demonstrates superior navigational and craftsmanship skills and technologies from that time.
The boat’s purpose was to transport King Khufu through the afterlife to paradise. In 1954, we found the boat, one of two, with a flat bottom made of numerous boards. We reassembled it from 1,224 parts. The Grand Egyptian Museum currently houses it. If you want to see the Great Pyramid of King Khufu or one of Egypt’s numerous ancient monuments, browse our Egypt tour packages and pick your best journey to “The Land of Pharaohs.”
