Khufu
| Also known as: Cheops | Dynasty IV |
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.
Manetho records indicate that Khufu ruled for 63 years, while Herodotus say 50, but the Turin King-list only 23 years. The exact number of years is not known, but 27 is considered as the lowest possibility, while it might be as high as 46 years, or more.
| Reign of Khufu | |
|---|---|
| AE Chronology | 2509–2483 |
| von Beckerath | 2579–2556 |
| Shaw | 2589–2566 |
| Dodson | 2470–2447 |
| Allen | 2551–2528 |
| Malek | 2549–2526 |
| Arnold | 2555–2520 |
| Redford | 2609–2584 |
| Turin Canon | 23 years |
| Manetho (Africanus) | 63 years |
The Royal Titulary
From the hieroglyphic records
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 52-53, 2:H1
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 52-53, 2:H2
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien (1849), II, 26a
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 52-53, 2:N1
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 52-53, 2:G1
Lepsius, Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien (1849), II, 50b
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 52-53, 2:E4
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (1999), 52-53, 2:E5
Beckerath, Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen (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 (1849), 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 | Transliteration | Transcription | Reign |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africanus iv, 2 | Σoυφις | Souphis | Suphis | 63 years |
| Eusebius iv, 3 | Σoυφις | Souphis | Soyphis | |
| Herodotus 124 | Χεοπα | Kheops | Cheops | |
| Diodorus 1.63.2 | Χεμμις | Khemmis | Chemmis | 50 years |
| Eratosthenes 15 | Σαωφις | Saophis | Saophis | 29 years |
Bibliography
Beckerath, J. Handbuch der Ägyptischen Königsnamen, MÄS 49 (1999): 52–53
Baker. D. D. The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume I – Predynastic to the Twentieth Dynasty 3300–1069 BC (London, 2008), 189–191
Gauthier, H. Le livre des rois d'Égypte. MIFAO 17 (1907): 72–83
Leprohon, R. J. The Great Name: Ancient Egyptian Royal Titulary (Atlanta, 2013), 35
The full titulary was announced at the coronation, when a pharaoh officially became king.
Horus name
The oldest form of a pharaoh's name, often enclosed in a serekh, a sort of "heraldic crest" representing a palace facade.
Nebty name
The "Two Ladies", the heraldic goddesses Nekhbet and Wadjet, representing Upper and Lower Egypt respectively.
Golden Horus name
Gold was strongly associated with eternity, but the meaning of this title is disputed.
Throne name
(prenomen) Announced at the coronation, and written in a cartouche.
Personal name
(nomen) The name given at birth, also written in a cartouche.
- Turin king list
223 kings – Dynasty 19 - Abydos Canon
76 kings – Dynasty 19 - Saqqara Canon
58 kings – Dynasty 19 - Karnak Canon
61 kings – Dynasty 18 - Comparing the canons
Abydos, Saqqara and Karnak - Ramesseum Canon
Ramesses II Mortuary Temple - Medinet Habu Canon
Ramesses III Mortuary Temple
Ancient historians
- Herodotus
450 BC – Histories - Manetho
250 BC – Aegyptiaca - Diodorus
50 BC – Bibliotheca Historica - Josephus
100 CE – Against Apion - Africanus
220 CE – Chronographai - Eusebius
325 CE – Chronicon - Jerome
380 CE – Chronicon - Syncellus
800 CE – Egloga Chronographai - Eratosthenes
Probably a forgery (date unknown) - Comparing the sources
Transmission of Manetho
by Africanus et. al.
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