Old Kingdom Rulers Khufu - Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum

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• Plan Your Visit
  • Accessibility
  • Admissions and Hours
  • Directions
  • Events Calendar
  • Educator Resources
  • Tours and Group Visits
• Programs & Events
  • Workshops
  • Junior Archaeologist Program
• Explore
  • Interactive Map
  • Deities in Ancient Egypt
  • Time Periods of Ancient Egypt
• Collection
  • Search Our Collection
  • 3D Artifact Models
• Exhibits
  • Complete Museum Tour in 360
  • Museum Gallery Tours in 360
  • Museum Tomb Tour in 360
  • Alchemy Garden Tour in 360
  • Alchemy Exhibit in 360
  • Thoth AI Robot
  • Past Exhibits
• Publications
  • Treasures of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
  • News
• Support Us
  • Volunteer
  • Become a Member
  • Make a Donation

Old Kingdom Rulers

Home / Explore / Old Kingdom: 2650-2150 BCE / Old Kingdom Rulers

• Neolithic Period: 4500-3000 BCE
• Early Dynastic: 3000-2650 BCE
• Old Kingdom: 2650-2150 BCE
  • - Architects: Hemiunu
  • - Architects: Imhotep
  • - Rulers: Djoser
  • - Rulers: Khufu (Cheops in Greek)
  • - Monuments: Abu Ghurab
  • - Monuments: Pyramids of Giza
  • - Monuments: Sphinx
  • - Monuments: Step Pyramid
  • - Artifacts: Link to Collection Search
• 1st Intermediate Period: 2150-2040 BCE
• Middle Kingdom: 2040-1640 BCE
• 2nd Intermediate Period: 1640-1550 BCE
• New Kingdom: 1550-1070 BCE
• 3rd Intermediate Period: 1070-712 BCE
• Saite and Late Periods: 712-332 BCE
• Greco-Roman Period: 332 BCE-642 CE
• Coptic Period: 395-642 CE
• Islamic Period and Modern Times: 642 CE-Today

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• Neolithic Period: 4500-3000 BCE
• Early Dynastic: 3000-2650 BCE
• Old Kingdom: 2650-2150 BCE
  • - Architects: Hemiunu
  • - Architects: Imhotep
  • - Rulers: Djoser
  • - Rulers: Khufu (Cheops in Greek)
  • - Monuments: Abu Ghurab
  • - Monuments: Pyramids of Giza
  • - Monuments: Sphinx
  • - Monuments: Step Pyramid
  • - Artifacts: Link to Collection Search
• 1st Intermediate Period: 2150-2040 BCE
• Middle Kingdom: 2040-1640 BCE
• 2nd Intermediate Period: 1640-1550 BCE
• New Kingdom: 1550-1070 BCE
• 3rd Intermediate Period: 1070-712 BCE
• Saite and Late Periods: 712-332 BCE
• Greco-Roman Period: 332 BCE-642 CE
• Coptic Period: 395-642 CE
• Islamic Period and Modern Times: 642 CE-Today

2566 BCE

Possibly the most famous Old Kingdom pharaoh, Khufu was the second pharaoh of the Fourth Dynasty. His full name is Khnum-Khufu, or “Protected by Khnum.” The Greeks called him Suphis or Cheops. Existing records show that he could have reigned anywhere from 23 to 34 years; Manetho, a third century BCE historian, even suggested a reign of 63 years. He is believed to have extended the borders of Egypt into the Sinai.

Khufu is also generally believed to be the builder of the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is the largest pyramid ever built and the first in the Giza complex.

Egypt prospered under the pharaohs of the Fourth Dynasty, which is why they were able to fund their massive building projects. Khufu was succeeded by his son Djedefre, whose reign was quite short, and then by Khafre, another of his sons. Khafre was the builder of the second Giza pyramid.

Image: Khufu statue at the Egyptian Museum Cairo, Egypt.

Photo credit: By Chipdawes - Own work, CC BY 3.0

https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/Khufu/

David, Anthony and Rosalie. A Biographical Dictionary of Ancient Egypt. London: Taylor & Francis, 1992.

Lehner, Mark and Richard H. Wilkinson. The Complete Pyramids: Solving the Ancient Mysteries. London: Thames & Hudson, 1997.