Khafre (Chephren, Ra'kha'ef) (d. 2494 b.c.e.) To Khunianupu (fl. c. 2100 b.c.e.)

Fourth ruler of the Fourth Dynasty

He reigned from 2520 b.c.e. until his death. Khafre was the builder of the second pyramid at giza and was the son of khufu (Cheops) (r. 2551-2528 b.c.e.) and probably Queen henutsen. He married Queens khamer-ernebty (1) and merysankh (3) and raised Prince menkaure (Mycerinus), Prince Nekure, Princess khame-rernebty (2), and others. Another son, Baefre, is listed in some records as having succeeded him briefly, but Menkaure is normally identified as the actual heir.
When his brother Pharaoh, ra’djedef, died in 2520 b.c.e., Khafre put aside his sons: Setka, Baka, and ‘Ahanet. Khafre did not complete Ra’djedef’s pyramid either, leaving it unfinished at abu rowash. His own pyramid in giza was 702 feet square and originally 470 feet high. Encased in tureh limestone, the structure was completed by mortuary and valley temples. A causeway, 430 feet in length, connected the complex structures and was carved out of the rock. in the burial chamber a red granite sarcophagus awaited the mummified remains, and five boat pits were found in the complex, without boats.
Khafre’s accession to the throne demonstrated the revived dominance of the older faction of Khufu’s divided family. Khafre’s pyramid at Giza restored the plateau as the royal necropolis, and the Great sphinx, bearing his facial likeness, provided Giza with another insignia of pharaonic power. Khafre’s heir and successor was Menkaure (Mycerinus), his son by Queen Khamerernebty (1). Queen Merysankh (3) bore him Prince Nebemakht, Queen Nedjhekenu bore Prince Sekhemkare, and Queen persenti bore nekaure, who became famous because of his will. Khafre’s reign spanned over a quarter of a century, and he was popular with his people.
Khaftet-hir-nebes she was a goddess of the city of thebes, serving as a protector of the local area of the capital. tuthmosis iii (r. 1479-1425 b.c.e.) depicted her on a black granite tablet called “the Hymn of victory.” The tablet was discovered in karnak at Thebes.


khaibit

This was the Egyptian word for the shadow of a soul, viewed as the spiritual essence that was released from the confines of the human body at death. No particular role or purpose has been clearly defined for the khaibit in surviving texts, but the Egyptians anticipated the liberation of the shadow beyond the grave.

Khakheperresonbe’s Complaints

A literary work compiled in the Twelfth Dynasty (1991-1783 b.c.e.) or in the Second Intermediate Period (1640-1550 b.c.e.), the surviving copy, dating to the New Kingdom (1550-1070 b.c.e.), is now in the British Museum in London. Khakheperresonbe was a priest in heliopolis and wrote on the popular theme of a nation in distress. He carries on a conversation with his heart and receives counsel for silent courage in the face of adversity. The complaints develops a dolorous cadence and is similar to, or perhaps a version of, the “debate of a man with his soul.” The work became the staple of schools and survived as a lesson board. Egyptians appreciated didactic literature as well as poetry and religious works.

Khama’at (Ma’atkha) (fl. 25th century b.c.e.)

Princess of the Fifth Dynasty

She was a daughter of shepseskhaf (r. 2472-2467 b.c.e.) and Queen khentakawes (1) and is also called Ma’atkha in some records. Khama’at married ptahshepses (1) the high priest of Memphis, who had been raised and educated in the royal palace as a companion of menkaure (Mycerinus; r. 2490-2472 b.c.e.) and Shepseskhaf.

Khamerernebty (1) (fl. 25th century b.c.e.)

Royal woman of the Fourth Dynasty

She was the consort of khafre (Chephren; r. 2520-2494 b.c.e.) and probably the mother of menkaure (Mycerinus, the heir), and Princess khamerernebty (2). Khamerernebty was a daughter of khufu. She was buried in a large tomb east of Khafre’s pyramid at giza.

Khamerernebty (2) (fl. 25th century b.c.e.)

Royal woman of the Fourth Dynasty

She was a daughter of khafre (Chephren; 2520-2494 b.c.e.) and probably Queen khamerernebty (1). The consort of menkaure (Mycerinus; r. 2490-2472 b.c.e.), she was the mother of Prince Khunere, who died young. A statue of her was discovered in Menkaure’s mortuary complex. Khamerernebty was also the mother of the heir, shepseskhaf. She was not buried near her husband but within her father’s mortuary complex.

Khamet (fl. 14th century b.c.e.)

Eighteenth Dynasty treasury official

He served tuthmosis iv (r. 1401-1391 b.c.e.) and amenhotep iii (r. 1391-1353 b.c.e.) as a treasurer and superintendent of royal building projects of the dynasty. Khamet was buried on the western shore of the Nile at thebes, and his tomb has reliefs depict the military campaigns of Egypt during his term of service.

khamsin

An Arabic name for a seasonal storm condition in the Nile valley arising in February or March and lasting about two months, the khamsin is composed of southerly or southwesterly winds, sometimes reaching intense velocities. Diurnal, meaning that the wind speeds increase throughout the daylight hours, the khamsin brings sand into the populated territories. The storm season was viewed as a time of contagion and disease, ending with “the sweet breath of the north wind” that brought welcome relief. How early the khamsin appeared in the Nile is not clearly documented. climatic changes may have brought the storm season into Egypt in pharaonic times, or it may be a relatively modern phenomenon.

Khamudi (Swoserenre, Asseth, A’azekhre) (d. c.1523 b.c.e.)

Last ruler of the hyksos Fifteenth Dynasty, called the Great Hyksos

Khamudi reigned from c. 1550 b.c.e. until his death. He is listed in the turin canon and was called Asseth by manetho, the Ptolemaic Period (304-30 b.c.e.) historian. In other lists he is named A’azekhre. Khamudi’s obelisk was discovered at the abandoned capital of avaris in the eastern Delta. He had the misfortune of ascending to power when ‘ahmose (r. 1550-1525 b.c.e.) became the founder of the Eighteenth Dynasty at thebes. There was a period of comparative calm for the first decade of ‘Ahmose’s reign, but upon reaching majority he renewed Thebes’s assault on the Hyksos, ultimately ousting them from power and forcing them to flee from Egypt.

Kharga Oasis

A miniature jewel in the Libyan desert, called Uakt-rest, the Outer or Southern Oasis, Kharga was also part of “the oases route.” Located some 77 miles southwest of assiut, Kharga contains temples and towns, including hibis. A temple to amun was established there in the reign of darius i (521-486 b.c.e.) and refurbished in later periods. This temple had an elaborate sacred lake and an avenue of sphinxes. other temples were built in honor of isis, mut, khons (2), and serapis. Kharga, the largest of the oases, was a vital trade outpost. With the other oases it served as an agricultural resource, a haven for fugitives, and in some historical periods, a place of exile for individuals banned by the pharaoh. See also oases.

Kha’sekhemwy (Kheneres) (fl. c. 2640 b.c.e.)

Final ruler of the Second Dynasty, the actual unifier of Egypt He reigned c. 2640 and was called Kheneres by manetho, the Ptolemaic historian. Kha’sekhemwy is credited with the actual completion of Egypt’s unification, changing his name from Kha’sekhem to Kha’sekhemwy as a result. His name after the unification meant “the Two Kingdoms Are at peace in Him.”
The task was not an easy one, and his three-decade rule was turbulent. He might not have been the direct successor to peribsen. The names of the pharaohs Sendji, Neterka, and Neferkara appear as interlopers in some king lists, or they may have been the rebels subdued by Kha’sekhemwy. He is recorded as campaigning in den-dereh, Minya, elkab, the faiyum, and in some northern regions that rebelled against his rule. The bases of his statuary announced that 47,209 rebels died in battle.
Another stone vase records: “Year of Fighting the Northern Enemy.”
Kha’sekhemwy’s consort was nima’athap (Hapnima’at or Nema’athop), and she was designated as “King Bearer,” being the mother probably of nebka and djoser. His mortuary complex at abydos is called shunet el-zabib, “the Storehouse of Dates.” A rectangular mud-brick structure surrounded by thick walls, the tomb was decorated with paneled walls. His second tomb in hierakonpolis was actually a fortress that was abandoned. The Abydos site has a central corridor opening onto 33 magazines on either side of a burial chamber of limestone. vast quantities of tools, vessels, beads, sealings, and gold were discovered there. A scepter of gold and sard was also found there.

khay

An Egyptian term meaning “to shine forth,” khay was used to describe the appearance of the pharaoh, the god-king, at temple ceremonies and state affairs. The word was also used to depict the sun at the dawn of creation and was associated with the concepts of horizons and the use of the royal “window of appearances.”

Khedebneitheret (fl. sixth century b.c.e.)

Royal woman of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty

The consort of amasis (r. 570-526 b.c.e.), she was possibly a daughter of apries, who was overthrown by Amasis. Khedebneitheret was buried in saqqara. She was not the ranking queen of Amasis.

Khemsit (Khemsait, Kemsiyet) (fl. 21st century b.c.e.)

Royal companion of the Eleventh Dynasty She was a member of the harem of montuhotep ii (r. 2061-2010 b.c.e.) of the Eleventh Dynasty. Khemsit was buried in the king’s vast mortuary complex in deir el-bahri on the western shore of thebes. Her sarcophagus designated her as yet another “Sole Favorite of the King.”

Khendjer (Userkare) (fl. c. 1740 b.c.e.)

Thirteenth Dynasty ruler

An obscure ruler of this relatively undocumented dynasty, he came to power c. 1740 b.c.e. Khendjer is listed in the turin canon. He is famed for adorning the tomb of djer, the second pharaoh of the First Dynasty, at abydos. Djer’s tomb was thought to be the actual grave of the god osiris. Khendjer’s act of piety in providing the tomb with an osiris bed, a votive memorial, was recorded in his records. He also commissioned the cleaning and refurbishing of the temple of osiris at Abydos. Ruling only about four years, Khendjer built his tomb in southern saqqara. The pyramidal complex, made of a mud-brick core with a limestone facing, was graced with quartzite portcullises and corridors that led to a burial chamber, also made of black quartzite. The mortuary chapel of the tomb had palm columns. The limestone facing used on the complex structures of Khendjer was later removed by ramesses ii (r. 1290-1224 b.c.e.) for his own monuments. There is evidence of robbery on the site, but Khendjer does not appear to have used the pyramid. His name was erased in some areas of the complex.

Khenemsu (Khentikhety-hotep) (fl. 19th century b.c.e.)

Official and mining leader of the Twelfth Dynasty He served senwosret iii (r. 1878-1841 b.c.e.) as the royal treasurer and the leader of the various mining expeditions conducted in that era. The utilization of Egypt’s natural resources was a vital aspect of senwosret iii’s reign. Khen-emsu was in charge of the sinai territory and had to defend Egypt’s holdings from bedouin (bedwi) raids while mining copper and malachite. While inspecting the wadi maghara, Khenemsu was accompanied on his tours by Ameniseneb, Sitra, and Sebeko, also officials. A stela erected by a subordinate, Harnakht, confirms the expedition and the unusual manner of travel, by boat. Khenemsu is also listed as Khentikhety-hotep in some records. See also Egyptian natural resources.

Khensuhotep (fl. c. 14th century b.c.e.)

Author of the Maxims

The Maxims were a religious literary text of the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550-1307 b.c.e.). Khensuhotep addressed his fellow Egyptians and urged them to remember that the gods honored silent prayer and decreed right behavior (ma’at) in all creatures. The Maxims were popular throughout the Nile valley.

Khentakawes (1) (fl. 25th century b.c.e.)

Royal woman of the Fourth and Fifth Dynasties

She was the daughter of Prince djedefhor’, or Menkaure, heirs to the throne of khufu (Cheops). Khentakawes married shepseskhaf (r. 2472-2467 b.c.e.) and became the mother of sahure and kakai (Neferirkare). She also may have been the mother of djedefptah (Thamptis), who is listed in the turin canon and mentioned by manetho, the ptolemaic historian, as ruling Egypt for two years. Her daughter was khama’at, who married ptahshepses (1), the high priest of Memphis. Khentakawes was honored with two tombs—one at giza and one at abusir. Her tomb at Giza shows her with a royal beard and a uraeus. She was possibly regent when shepseskhaf died.

Khentakawes (2) (fl. 25th century b.c.e.)

Royal woman of the Fifth Dynasty

She was the consort of kakai (Neferirkare) (r. 24462426 b.c.e.) and the mother of neferefre and niuserre.
Khentakawes was depicted as wearing the pharaonic symbol of the uraeus and carrying a scepter, perhaps serving as regent for a time.

Khentemsemti (fl. 19th century b.c.e.)

Mining and royal treasury official of the Twelfth Dynasty He served amenemhet ii (r. 1929-1892 b.c.e.) as a royal treasurer and a leader of expeditions to mines and quarries. Khentemsemti left an inscription about one such expedition on elephantine Island at aswan.

Khentetka (fl. 26th century b.c.e.)

Royal woman of the Fourth Dynasty

She was a secondary queen of ra’djedef (r. 2528-2520 b.c.e.). A statue of Khentetka was recovered from the unfinished pyramid of Ra’djedef in abu rowash. Her remains have not been found, but a newly discovered pyramid on the site may be her tomb.

Khentiamentiu

He was a divine being of Egypt, the forerunner of the god osiris, dating to Predynastic Periods (before 3,000 b.c.e.). Called “the Foremost of the Westerners,” he was depicted as a jackal. The title indicates that Khentiamentiu was associated with the mortuary rituals as a guardian of the dead, who went to “the west.” Normally the necropolis areas were located on the western shore of the Nile. sometimes addressed as Ophis, Khentiamentiu was a warrior deity and the navigator for the sun’s nightly voyage in the tuat, or Underworld. His cultic shrines were in abydos and assiut, and he was sometimes associated with wep-wawet, the wolf deity. His cult was popular in the First Dynasty (2920-2770 b.c.e.). The pyramid texts of the Fourth Dynasty (2575-2465 b.c.e.) associated Khentiamentiu with Osiris. Soon after, Osiris became “the Foremost of the Westerners,” and the Khentiamentiu cult disappeared.

Khentikus (Khentika) (fl. 24th and 23rd centuries b.c.e.)

Vizier and royal judge of the Sixth Dynasty He served teti (r. 2323-2291 b.c.e.) and pepi i (r. 22892255 b.c.e.). His tomb near Memphis declared his honors as a vizier and supreme judge of the court system. Khen-tikus, sometimes listed as Khentika, was depicted in tomb reliefs as passing judgment on five unworthy governors. Two condemned governors are already tied to poles in the scene, in preparation for physical punishment.

Khenut (fl. 24th century b.c.e.)

Royal woman of the Fifth Dynasty

She was a consort of unis (r. 2356-2323 b.c.e.). Khenut’s tomb is located near Unis’s mortuary temple in saqqara.

Kheper (Khepri, Khepere)

He was a divine being of Egypt. A creator deity, Kheper was associated with the daily cycle of the sun and symbolized the sun at dawn. Having a cult center at heliopolis, Kheper was a manifestation of the god re. He is depicted as a man with a scarab pushing the sun across the sky. In petosiris’s tomb at tuna el-gebel, dating to the Ptolemaic Period (304-30 b.c.e.), Kheper is shown wearing an Atef crown. He was also mentioned in the pyramid texts. Self-created, Kheper was associated with atum. See also gods and goddesses; solar cults.

khepesh (khopresh)

The sickle-shaped sword used by the Egyptians in military campaigns in the New Kingdom (1550-1070 b.c.e.), the weapon was hyksos in origin, introduced by the Asiatic invaders.

khert-neter

This term translates as “that which is beneath a god” and was used in ancient Egypt to denote a cemetery or necropolis. Most cemetery areas had particular patrons, deities who resided on overlooking cliffs and surveyed the tombs located in the region. meresger (1), a goddess of thebes, is an example of such cliff-dwelling deities overlooking the khert-neter.

Kheruef (fl. 14th century b.c.e.)

Palace official of the Eighteenth Dynasty

He served as the royal steward of amenhotep iii (r. 1391-1353 b.c.e.). Kheruef’s main duties were involved with the daily administrative affairs of Queen tiye (1), Amenhotep iii’s dynamic and powerful consort. His tomb at dra-abu el-naga, on the western shore of thebes, contains fine reliefs that display his life and honors. Amenhotep II is depicted in the reliefs, and there are scenes of Queen Tiye and akhenaten as a prince. A columned hall and painted scenes also grace Kheruef’s tomb.

Khesuwer (fl. 20th century b.c.e.)

Religious official of the Twelfth Dynasty

He served as an inspector of “the Prophets of hathor” in the reign of senwosret i (1971-1926 b.c.e.). His tomb was discovered near Kom el-Hisn, called “the Mound of the Fort.” The chambers of the stone tomb are painted and scenic. A temple to hathor and sekhmet once stood on the site.

Khety I (Meryibre, Aktoy) (fl. 22nd century b.c.e.)

Founder of the Ninth Dynasty

He based his royal line at herakleopolis in 2134 b.c.e. The dynasty, combined with the Tenth, ruled a portion of Egypt until 2061 b.c.e. when montuhotep ii united the two kingdoms again. Khety I gained considerable land after the fall of the Old Kingdom (2575-2134 b.c.e.), particularly north of abydos. He was the son of Tefibi, a noble lord of assiut, and he claimed to have descended from a princely line. He inscribed his name in aswan. His contemporaries described him as “cruel.”

Khety II (Nebkaure) (fl. c. 2100 b.c.e.)

Ruler of the Ninth Dynasty

He was the successor to khety i at herakleopolis. His mother had to serve as regent for his first four years of reign. Khety II is believed to be the ruler who invited “the eloquent peasant,” Khunianupu, to court. His name was inscribed at the wadi timulat.

Khety III (Wah’kare) (fl. 22nd century b.c.e.)

Third ruler of the Ninth Dynasty

The date of his reign is unknown. Khety III is revered as the author of instructions for merikar£, a didactic text that was addressed to his son. The Instructions are valuable for their historical perspective of the First intermediate Period (2134-2040 b.c.e.) and for their portrayal of Khety III. He had witnessed the assault made on the city of thinis by his allies at assiut and sorely regretted the event.
During the assault a necropolis had been ravaged and desecrated, along with shrines and temples. The incident aroused the Theban royal line and set them on a military crusade that would destroy the Herakleopolitans. inyotef ii of Thebes was a contemporary of Khety III, who also fought against invading Bedouins and Asiatics throughout his reign.

Khian (Swoserenre) (fl. 16th century b.c.e.)

One of the “Great Hyksos” rulers of the Fifteenth Dynasty (1640-1532 b.c.e.)

He ruled from avaris in the eastern Delta on the Bubastite branch of the Nile, and he was a vigorous monarch, despite the fact that Upper Egypt, the southern domain, was in the control of thebes. Khian’s inscriptions are still visible all across Egypt and even in the Knossus of Crete. A granite lion form that was built into the wall of a house in Baghdad, Iraq, bears his name as well. He decorated shrines at gebelein and bubastis, and scarabs and seal impressions of his name have been discovered in the Levant. A fragment of a vase with his titles was unearthed at Hattusas, modern Boghazkoy, Turkey, the hittite capital.

Khnum

The ancient Egyptian deity worshiped at elephantine Island at Aswan, he was a creator god revered as a ram. Khnum formed a triad with satet and anukis on Elephantine Island. His name meant “the Molder,” and he used a potter’s wheel to fashion the great cosmic egg and then all living creatures. thoth aided him in this creative process by marking the number of years allotted to each. Khnum’s cult dates to Predynastic Periods (before 3,000 b.c.e.), and the centers of his worship were on the Elephantine (Abu), at biga, and at esna. Khnum was the deity of the first cataract of the Nile and the god of the inundations, associated with the goddesses merit (2) and heket. He was called “the Prince of the Two Lands” and “the Prince of the House of Life.” Khnum brought the Nile to Egypt through two caverns in Aswan, where he was associated with Anukis and satet.
Called also “the Soul of Re,” Khnum wore the horns of the oldest species of rams in Egypt (Ovis longipes). At esna, he had two different divine consorts, menhet and neith (1). The reliefs at the Esna temple portray Khnum’s creative powers. The famine stela at sehel island described prayers to Khnum in times of low Nile inundations. djoser (r. 2630-2611 b.c.e.) was honored by later generations for visiting the shrine of Khnum and ending a famine in his reign. The people of nubia (modern Sudan) incorporated Khnum into their cultic services and associated him with their deity Dedun. Khnum was portrayed as a robust man with a ram’s head, wearing ivory horns, plumes, the solar disk, and the uraeus.

Khnumhotep (1) (fl. 20th century b.c.e.)

Remarkable nomarch of Beni Hasan in Middle Egypt

He was a royal servant who founded a family in the oryx nome that served the Twelfth Dynasty. Khnumhotep accompanied amenemhet i (r. 1991-1962 b.c.e.) on his military campaigns, sailing with a fleet of 20 ships to put down rebellious outposts on the Nile. As a result of this faithful service, Khnumhotep was named the count of menet-khufu and the head of the Oryx nome. Khnum-hotep’s sons, Nakht and Amenemhet, became court officials, and his daughter, Beket, married and gave birth to another Khnumhotep heir. Khnumhotep’s tomb at beni hasan has exterior facades, three naves, and niches for statues.

Khnumhotep (2) (fl. 20th century b.c.e.)

Grandson of Khnumhotep (1)

He was the son of Beket, khnumhotep (1)’s daughter, and an official named Nehri. Khnumhotep succeeded his uncle Nakht as the ruler of the oryx nome in the nineteenth year of the reign of amenemhet ii (1929-1892 b.c.e.). He married the heiress of the Jackal nome, and his own son, another Nakht, inherited that territory. His stela was found at wadi gasus. Khnumhotep claimed to be “the darling of his lord.”

Khnumhotep (3) (fl. 20th century b.c.e.)

Nomarch and royal servant

He was the son of khnumhotep (2) and succeeded him as ruler of the oryx nome. He was buried with his ancestors in beni hasan.

Khnumt (Khnumyt, Khnumet) (fl. 19th century b.c.e.)

Royal woman of the Twelfth Dynasty

She was probably the daughter of amenemhet ii (r. 1929-1892 b.c.e.). Khnumt was buried during his reign at dashur. A cache of her royal jewels was found in the necropolis there, and the necklaces and crowns are remarkable for their beauty and craftsmanship. A trapdoor covered the entrance of her tomb, hiding it from robbers. A sandstone sarcophagus was in place in the tomb, but her mummified remains were badly damaged by robbers.

Khokha

A site between sheikh abd’ el-qurna and deir el-bahri, serving as a necropolis on the western side of the Nile at thebes. Tombs dating to the Sixth Dynasty (2323-2150 b.c.e.) were discovered in this necropolis, cut into the rocks. New Kingdom (1550-1070 b.c.e.) tombs were also built in Khokha. several of the burial sites are beautifully painted and have fine reliefs.

Khons (1)

He was a moon deity, patron of childbirth, and member of the theban triad with amun and mut. His name was formed from kh for placenta, and nsu or nsw for ruler. He is usually depicted as a royal young man with the lock of youth, mummy wrappings, and the scepter of ptah, or the crook and the flail. His cult was popular throughout Egypt, and he is shown in reliefs at karnak, thebes, medinet habu, and the ramesseum.
At kom ombo, Khons was honored as the son of sobek and hathor. There he was a lunar deity. At Karnak he was called Khons Neferhotep, “the Maker of Destinies.” As Khons-Pa-Khart, he was “the Child” or “the Full Moon.” Khons-Hunnu was “the Strong Youth,” “the Bull of His Mother,” a source of regeneration. Wearing the crescent and full-moon symbols on his head and the elaborate menat collar, Khons was the celestial chronogra-pher, reckoning time. As Khons-pa-ari-sekheru, the deity had authority over all evil spirits. in this capacity he was recorded in the bentresh stela as an exorcist.
The Bentresh Stela dates to the reign of ramesses ii (r. 1290-1224 b.c.e.) and is presently in luxor. This monument announces that Ramesses ii sent a statue of Khons to a neighboring ruler to cure his daughter, who was suffering from demonic possession. The statue was Khons-the-Expeller-of-Demons. The god was also associated with re in some periods and was then called Khons-re. Khons personally designed the statue of his divine person that was taken to the sick or the possessed. The daughter was cured, and Khons was honored with a shrine. The ruler, however, had a vision almost four years later, indicating that Khons wished to return to Egypt. He was sent back to the Nile with a treasury of gifts.

Khons (2) (fl. 13th century b.c.e.)

Priestly official of the Nineteenth Dynasty

He served in the reign of ramesses ii (r. 1290-1224 b.c.e.) as the high priest of the cult of the deified tuth-mosis iii. His tomb was discovered at khokha on the western side of thebes. Within the tomb the cults of Tuthmosis III and montu are depicted in reliefs and paintings. The ceiling of the tomb chamber also has birds, grapes, and textile designs. The arrival of the bark of the god Montu is elaborately portrayed.

Khufu (Cheops) (d. 2528 b.c.e.)

Second ruler of the Fourth Dynasty

He reigned from 2551 b.c.e. until his death. He was the builder of the Great pyramid at giza. His name is a shortened version of Khnum-khuefui, “Khnum Protects Me.” The Greeks listed him as Cheops. The son of snefru and Queen hetepheres (1), Khufu ruled a unified country and used capable relatives as administrators. His Great Wife was meritites (1), who gave birth to Prince kewab and probably hetepheres (2). Another wife, Queen henutsen, bore Prince Khufukhaf and probably khafre (Chephren). There was another unidentified queen, possibly neferkau, who gave birth to ra’djedef
Khufu’s offspring included as well djedefhor, Khumbaef, merysankh (2), minkhaf, neferma’at, khame-rernebti (1), Djedef’Aha, and others. The royal family was actually divided into two political and clan groups, with rivalries and disputes that affected the dynasty after Khufu’s demise. The reputation of Khufu was not good, as a result. Greek historians claimed they were informed of the details by Egyptian records and wrote ill of him.
The Great Pyramid at Giza—Khufu's monument—the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.
The Great Pyramid at Giza—Khufu’s monument—the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.
The raising of the Great Pyramid, which used CORViE labor, not slaves, was an almost overwhelming task. The Greeks related that Khufu’s daughter had to sell herself in order to raise the necessary money to complete the project. The accusation is false, as Egypt did not have a currency until centuries later.
Khufu also dabbled in magic, according to the legends, using a magician from meidum, djedi, who sailed on the Nile in a barge full of women clad only in fishnets. The TALE OF KHUFU AND THE MAGICIANS, a Middle Kingdom (2040-1640 b.c.e.) papyrus, relates this exotic tale. The real Khufu was vigorous and active. He used the diorite quarries near ABU simbel, fought campaigns in the sinai, and initiated building projects around Memphis. His name was found on seals of jars and vases in BEIT khal-laf, north of abydos, and the westcar papyrus details his reign. only a small statuette was discovered as his portrait, now in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
His Great pyramid in Giza was originally 753 square feet, rising 478 feet, and it is the only survivor of the seven wonders of the world. it took two decades of continuous labor, using corvee levies of workers in the land. Five boat pits were included in the complex on the south and east. The mortuary cult of Khufu was popular in Egypt, still observed in the nation during the Twenty-sixth Dynasty (664-525 b.c.e.) and even into the Roman period in some areas.

Khunianupu (fl. c. 2100 b.c.e.)

“Eloquent Peasant,” the famed sage of the First Intermediate Period Khunianupu lived in the reign of khety ii (r. 2100 b.c.e.). Having endured harsh treatment at the hands of an official’s son, Khunianupu petitioned the Egyptian court system for redress, eventually coming to the attention of Khety II. “The eloquent peasant,” as he was called, was invited to the court and honored as a sage. Khunianupu received a generous judgment and was asked to address his fellow Egyptians. His admonitions about honor and justice were discovered in four New Kingdom (1550-1070 b.c.e.) papyri.

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