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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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People File • Historical

Khufu

Khufu, also known by the Greek name Cheops, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt’s Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Khufu, also known as Cheops, was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt's Fourth Dynasty. He is best known for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

What it is

Khufu was the second pharaoh of Egypt's Fourth Dynasty during the Old Kingdom, ruling around the 26th century BC. He was the son of Sneferu and Queen Hetepheres I. Many details of his reign are poorly documented, but his name survives in Greek as Cheops.

Why it matters

Khufu is most closely associated with the Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest pyramid in the Giza complex and a lasting symbol of ancient Egyptian engineering. The pyramid was built as his royal tomb and remains one of the most famous structures in history, studied in Canadian archaeology and world heritage contexts.

Key details

Historical records about Khufu's reign are limited, so the exact length of his rule and many aspects of his administration remain uncertain. Later traditions preserve his name, but his personality and achievements beyond the pyramid are not well documented.

In short

  • Second pharaoh of Egypt's Fourth Dynasty
  • Commissioned the Great Pyramid of Giza
  • Poorly documented reign with uncertain details
  • Son of Sneferu and Queen Hetepheres I
Canadian angle

Khufu is studied in Canadian history, archaeology, and museum collections as part of ancient Egyptian civilization and world heritage.

Quick questions

Who is Khufu?
Khufu was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty in the Old Kingdom. He is best known as the ruler associated with the Great Pyramid of Giza.
How old is Khufu?
Khufu lived more than 4,000 years ago, in the 26th century BC. His exact birth and death dates are unknown, and his age at death is not reliably recorded.
What is Khufu known for?
Khufu is known mainly for commissioning the Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest pyramid in the Giza complex and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khufu
    Supports: Khufu as second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty, successor to Sneferu, and associated with the Great Pyramid of Giza.
  2. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/biography/Khufu
    Supports: Khufu as second king of the Fourth Dynasty and builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza.
  3. BBC History — https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/khufu.shtml
    Supports: Khufu as second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty, son of Sneferu, and builder of the Great Pyramid.
  4. The Egyptian Museum — https://egyptianmuseum.org/explore/old-kingdom-ruler-khufu
    Supports: Alternative name Khnum-Khufu, reign-length estimates, and belief that he built the Great Pyramid of Giza.
  5. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/ancient-history-egypt-biographies/khufu
    Supports: Khufu as Egyptian king who ruled circa the late 26th century BC and built the Great Pyramid.