Khufu

Fact 1 on Khufu:

Name: This pharaoh of ancient Egypt was also known as Cheops which is his name in Greek. His name means "Khnum Protects Me". Khnum was the ram-headed god of water, fertility and procreation. Khufu was twenty when he came to the throne and at once began building the Great Pyramid at Giza, his “Stairway to Heaven”.
 

Fact 2 on Khufu:

History: Khufu ruled as the king of Egypt during the period in ancient Egyptian history known as the Old Kingdom and was a pharaoh of the 4th dynasty of kings by right of inheritance. He succeeded Pharaoh Snefru to the throne of Egypt.
 

Fact 3 on Khufu:

Family: His father was Snefru and his mother was Queen Hetepheres.
 

Fact 4 on Khufu:

Family: Khufu married Meritites, whose status and title was the "King's Principal Wife", "King’s Wife, his beloved" and "Consort and beloved of the Two Ladies". Meritites was one of Snefru's daughters and therefore either the sister or half sister of Khufu. It was acceptable for the pharaoh to practise incest in order to retain the sacred and divine bloodline. Meritites was the mother of Crown Prince Kawab.
 

Fact 5 on Khufu:

Family: The names of one of his 'lesser wives' was Henutsen, another daughter of Snefru and therefore a blood relative of Khufu. Henutsen was believed to be the mother of Khafre aka Chephren.  There were also at least two other wives, one of whom was believed to be Neferkau, the mother of Djedefre. The name of the other wife of Khufu is unknown. It was acceptable for the king of Egypt to practise Polygamy, meaning he had more than one wife at the same time.
 

Fact 6 on Khufu:

Khufu had 9 sons and 15 daughters and they were all given influential positions in the royal court. Nepotism (favoritism granted to relatives) was practised by all of the kings of the 4th dynasty thus ensuring that the wealth and power of the kingdom remained in the family. But also led to jealous rivalries and disputes between the relatives who vied for positions that held the greatest power and influence.
 

Fact 7 on Khufu:

The names of the children of King Khufu are as follows:
 

Fact 8 on Khufu:

Khufu followed the lead of his father and initiated the construction of his tomb, which would become known as the Great Pyramid at Giza. It was built in just over 20 years and soared to the height of 146 meters (480 feet) which is equivalent to a modern 40 storey building.
 

Fact 9 on Khufu:

The Great Pyramid was hailed as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient World and a source of awe and wonder to everyone who saw it. Its construction demonstrated the wealth and the power of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs.
 

Fact 10 on Khufu:

The architect of Khufu's pyramid was a man called Hemiunu. Hemiunu was a member of the royal family, a grandson of King Snefru. Hemiunu was also Khufu's Vizier (Chief Chancellor) which made him the second most powerful man in Egypt, next to the pharaoh.
 

Fact 11 on Khufu:

Another important man in the royal court of Khufu was Djedi who had previously served his father as court physician, prophet and magician. Djedi continued his influential position under the new king. An ancient Egyptian text called the Westcar Papyrus contains stories about miracles performed by magicians, including those of Djedi.