Exploring Ancient Egypt: Pyramids, Pharaohs, and Legends

Khufu Born: 2589 BC Died: 2566 BC Principal Wife: Meritites Reign: unclear Khufu was the second pharaoh of the fourth dynasty of ancient Egypt. He was the son of Snefru and Queen Hetepheres. He ruled during the time period of the Old Kingdom, and is most well-known for building the Great Pyramid at Giza. Little is known about Khufu, except that he built the Great Pyramid at Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World. It took over twenty years to build and stood 480 feet tall. That’s about as tall as a building with forty stories! It was built with 2.3 million block… that’s a lot of blocks, especially considering that they weighed somewhere around 2.5 tons EACH! Khufu became pharaoh around the time he was twenty years old and wasted no time starting on the Great Pyramid. Greek legend says that slaves were used to build the pyramid. However, the more modern belief is that the pyramid was built using skilled labor workers instead of slaves. Khufu’s principal, or main, wife was his own sister. Yikes! This was very common in ancient Egypt though. It was believed that incest was necessary to maintain clean bloodlines. Incest means marrying someone of your immediate family. Khufu is often described as a cruel and heartless ruler. He once offered up a criminal’s life to see whether or not a magician could actually resurrect him. 1 What is Khufu most well-known for? Khufu is most well-known for commissioning the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. 2. How much did each stone used for the Great Pyramid weigh? How many were there? Each stone used for the Great Pyramid of Giza weighed between 2.5 to 15 tons, with some larger stones up to 80 tons. Approximately 2.3 million limestone blocks were used 3. Why was incest common? Incest was common among ancient ruling families to maintain royal bloodlines and consolidate power within the elite. 4. Who does Greek legend say built the pyramids? Greek legend attributes the construction of the pyramids to a mythical figure named Sesostris, though this is not historically accurate. 5. What is the more modern belief about who built the pyramids? Modern beliefs attribute the construction of the pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, to skilled laborers, craftsmen, and engineers, under the direction of Egyptian pharaohs such as Khufu. 6. Why was the period of his reign called the “Golden Age”? The period of Khufu's reign is sometimes referred to as the "Golden Age" because of the prosperity and achievements during his rule, including the construction of monumental structures like the Great Pyramid of Giza. This era saw significant advancements in art, architecture, and administration, contributing to Egypt's cultural and economic wealth.