King Khufu and the Great Pyramid

Of all the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, King Khufu (in Greek known as Cheops) has received little recognition, although his contribution to the world of architecture is known around the world and is in fact one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and one of the top 5 sites in Egypt today. Construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza was begun during his 26 year reign.

King Snefru, another of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs and Khufu's father, was also quite prolific at pyramid building and it is thought that King Khufu's great pyramid might have been inspired by watching his father. While not much is known about this pharaoh, what little is known has been derived from the Great Pyramid and the artifacts and inscriptions found inside.

Khufu was born the son of Snefru and Hetepheres I around 2589 BC. He is known to have had at least three wives, who bore him sons that split into three distinct family groups following Khufu's death. Like most of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, Khufu built a temple to house his body after his death, although his mummified corpse has never been found.

King Khufu's Great Pyramid

Evidence indicates construction began on Khufu's pyramid very soon after he took the throne. The construction continued for almost the entire length of the king's reign, some 23 years. The religion and culture of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs commanded an impressive tomb be built to house the body of a ruler and prepare him for his journey in the afterlife. While the purpose of the Great Pyramid is thought to have been a burial chamber for the king, his queens and various other officials, the exact manner in which the pyramid was constructed continues to be debated.

For a number of years the popular belief was that slave labor was used to construct this marvel. Recent theories indicate, however, that rather than slave labor, King Khufu utilized his organizational skills and abilities to pull together the nation of Egypt in the construction of what would become his burial tomb and the largest pyramid known to man. Some historians argue that citizens either worked on the pyramid for wages or in exchange for a waiver of taxes. Regardless of the means by which King Khufu's great pyramid was constructed, there is no denying it's architectural wonder. Khufu managed to do what no other pharaoh accomplished and that is to build a temple and pyramid larger than any other in Egypt.

Today, the pyramid lies just outside the city limits of Cairo and unfortunately, over the years has been slowly disintegrating due to a number of reasons. It is believed that, like many of the other pyramids built by ancient Egyptian pharaohs, the masonry on the Great Pyramid of Giza was picked and recycled for use in more modern structures. Throughout its 4000 year history the pyramid has lost approximately 10 meters in height, although it still stands at an impressive 145 meters.

While history remembers Khufu as perhaps one of the most cruel and merciless of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, the Great Pyramid of Giza lives on as a testament to his tremendous ability to coordinate hundreds of workers towards one purpose. It is through this fantastic architectural marvel that Khufu will be remembered as one of many famous Egyptian pharaohs.