The name of the pharaoh who had the Great pyramid at Giza built is of course the well known pharaoh Cheops, which is the hellenized version of his birth name, Khufu. He also used the longer Khnum-Khuf(u), most likely to accentuate his divine connection with the ram-headed creator god Khnum.
According to Manetho, Khufu ruled for 63 years, and according to Herodotus 50 years, but the Turin King-list only attest 23 years. The actual number of years is unknown, although 27 years is considered as the lowest possibility, while it might be at least 46 years if the cattle-count was held biennially.
The Royal Titulary
From the hieroglyphic records
Horus Medjedu The Dual King Khufu
Horus names
The oldest form of the name of a pharaoh, a falcon representing Horus is perched on the palace facade.
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 2:H1
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 2:H2
Nebty name
The “Two Ladies”, the goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, representing Upper and Lower Egypt respectively.
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 26a
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 2:N1
Golden Horus name
Horus perched on Gold, which was associated with eternity, but its meaning is disputed.
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 2:G1
Throne names
Announced at the coronation and always written in a cartouche. The “official” name of the pharaoh. Also known as the Prenomen.
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 50b
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 2:E4
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 2:E5
Beckerath, “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, 2nd ed. MÄS 49 (1999). 52-53, 2:E2
Drioton, Une Liste des Rois de la IV Dynastie dans l'Ouadi Hammamat. BSFE 16, 41-49
Tallet, Des papyrus du temps de Chéops au ouadi el-Jarf, BSFE 188 (2014), 42, fig. 17
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien, II, 50a
Gardiner, The Royal Canon of Turin (1959) III:10
The sources of antiquity
From the writings of the historians and scholars of antiquity
| Author | Greek | Transcription | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Africanus iv, 2 | Σoυφις | Suphis | 63 years |
| Eusebius iv, 3 | Σoυφις | Soyphis | |
| Herodotus 124 | Χεοπα | Cheops | 50 years |
| Diodorus 1.63.2 | Χεμμις | Chemmis | 50 years |
| Eratosthenes 15 | Σαωφις | Saophis | 29 |
Bibliography
- Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 17 (1907): 72–83
- Beckerath, J., 1999. “Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen”, Second edition, MÄS 49: 52–53
- Leprohon, R. J., 2013. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary. Atlanta: 35
- Baker. D. D., 2008. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I. London: 189–191
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