Khufu, << KOO foo, >> was a king of ancient Egypt who lived about 2600 B.C. His tomb, the Great Pyramid at Giza (Al Jizah), near Cairo, ranked as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Khufu, called Cheops by the Greeks, was the son of King Snefru. Scholars know little about Khufu’s life, in part because his tomb was robbed of its contents during ancient times. But Khufu established a vast cemetery at Giza, which indicates that he was a powerful ruler and capable organizer. The tombs of his mother—Hetepheres—and other relatives lie near Khufu’s pyramid.
