الجمعة، 18 يناير 2019

Kheops (2551-252) B.C

Kheops (2551-2528)

 A small ivory statue is the only known statue to bear the name of Kheops.

Kheops Quick Facts

Chronology
Dynasty: 4th
Predecessor: Snofru
Successor: Djedefre
Highest Year: 13th Cattle Count
Reign: 2551 - 2528 BC.

Family
Father: Snofru
Mother: Hetepheres I
Wives: Henutsen (?), Meretites
Children: Djedefre, Hetepheres II, Horbaf,

 Hordjedef, Kawab, Khamernebti I, Khefren, 
Khufu-khaf I, Meresankh II
By far the most renowned king of the Old Kingdom is Kheops,
 the builder of the great pyramid in Giza.

Biography of Kheops

Kheops is the second and, as the builder of the Great Pyramid at Giza also the most famous king of the 4th Dynasty. 
Kheops was the son of Snofru and Hetepheres I. He at least had two wives, probably even as much as four, with whom he had several children.
Queen Meretites is often assumed to have bore him Kawab, Hordjedef, Hetepheres II and Meresankh II.
With a queen whose name is only attested in Late Dynastic documents, Henutsen, Kheops probably had Re-khaf (the later king Khefren) and Khufu-khaf I as children.
Other children of Kheops are Re-djedef, who would succeed Kheops as Djedefre, Horbaf and Khamernebti I.

According to Manetho and Herodotos, Kheops would have ruled for 63 years. The Turin Canon, however, only notes 23 years for the successor of Snofru. Although the name of the king on this line is missing, it does apply to Kheops, being Snofru’s successor.
The highest known year reference of Kheops' reign is the year of the 13th cattle count. This means that Kheops must have ruled for at least 14 years, if the cattle counts were held every year, to 27 years, if the cattle counts were always held every two years. The mention of a year of the 17th cattle count may be based on a faulty reading.

Like his father, Kheops seems to have been intent on establishing a more or less permanent military presence in the Sinai, probably to prevent the Bedouins from interrupting the work in the turquoise mines. An inscription in Aswan demonstrates Kheops’ interest in this region as well, as it was the main quarry of the granite needed to build his pyramid. A stela found near Abu Simbel and some fragments of an alabaster object found in Byblos, indicate some commercial activity with Nubia and Palestine.
Kheops built his funerary monument away from his predecessor’s. Building activity was moved from Dashur to Giza, to the North of the capital Memphis. There he built the monument that has made him one of the most famous kings of the Ancient Egyptian history: the Great Pyramid of Giza.
A view on the Great Pyramid of Giza, Kheops' funerary monument.
A view on the Great Pyramid of Giza, Kheops' funerary monument.
Herodotos’ account of many thousands of slaves labouring for 20 years to build this monument, is now seen as incorrect. It is now accepted that the harder labour, such as moving and placing the granite and calcite blocks, was done by farmers during the annual 4-month inundation of the Nile. Recent discoveries have shown that they were housed and paid and that they were even buried near the pyramid of the king, so that they could be part of the king’s eternal life after death.
Herodotos, however, did not invent Kheops’ bad reputation. This had, in fact, become part of the Egyptian tradition centuries before this Greek traveller visited Egypt. The Middle Kingdom story recorded on the Westcar Papyrus, which shows Snofru as a wise and kind man, has been seen to describe Kheops as a cruel ruler, with no respect for life who would have a prisoner decapitated as part of a magical demonstration.

Kheops Statuary

Although only one statuette bears Kheops' name, several others have been credited to this king based on stylistic similarities.

Ivory Statuette of Kheops

This small ivory statue, found in 1903 by W.F.Petrie in Abydos is the only known statue that bears the titulary of Kheops.
The cartouche on the left-hand side of the throne, next to the king's leg, has been damaged and is not readable. The Horus Name on the right-hand side, can clearly be identified as belonging to Kheops.


Detail of the small statue of Kheops.
Despite the fact that it is only 7.5 cm high,  the king's face has been rendered with great detail. Long, narrow eyes, a broad nose and mouth and a firm chin give it a serene and recognisable expression.
The king wears the Red Crown, associated with Lower Egypt. In his right hand, he is holding a flail, symbol of his royal power, while his left hand is resting on his left knee.

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