Khufu

Mertites & Chennoe

This piece was discovered at Giza, and the inscription indicates that two persons are depicted, a woman named Mertites (who is depicted twice) and a boy named Chennoe (also sometimes written as Shenoe). The relationship between Mertites and Chennoe is not documented upon the piece, however, it is more than likely that they are mother...

Irukakhufu

Irukakhufu was an Old Kingdom man who held many titles including, “Royal Acquaintance“, “(Royal) Wab-Priest” and “Overseer of the Pyramid-town of Khufu“. Discovered within the serdab of tomb at the Western Cemetery in Giza, known as Lepsius 21, the statue depicts a man in scribe form, who is believed to be Irukakhufu. Two large offering...

Raramu and Ankhet

This double statuette (57.2 × 36.2 cm) depicts the married couple Raramu and Ankhet, and it was found within Raramu’s tomb (G 2099). Raramu was an elite in Ancient Egyptian society within the Old Kingdom period, and he held many titles. Some of those titles showcase his royal ties, such as, “Priest of Khufu in...

Nefer of the Old Kingdom

Nefer of the Old Kingdom

Nefer was a man of important status in Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom period. The owner of Tomb G 2110 at Giza, Nefer clearly held enough societal importance to have a decorated tomb upon the Giza Plateau to enjoy eternity within. Nefer’s titles vary, among some of which are, “Strong-of-voice (of the judiciary), Chief of the...

Prince Ankhhaf. Harvard University—Boston Museum of Fine Arts Expedition. 27.442

Bust of Prince Ankhhaf

Prince Ankhhaf was the son of an Old Kingdom king, most probably king Sneferu, making Ankhhaf the brother of king Khufu. Ankhhaf had the titles “eldest king’s son of his body” (sa nswt n khtf smsw), “vizier” and “the great one of Five of the house of Thoth” (wr djw pr-Djehuti). This bust made of...

Relief of Hetepheres II and daughter Meresankh III. Old Kingdom, 4th Dynasty, c. 2548-2522 B.C.

Hetepheres II and daughter Meresankh III

Double Mastaba of Meresankh III, G7530-40 (originally built for Hetepheres II), Giza Necropolis. Hetepheres II is the daughter of King Khufu, her daughter Meresankh III is granddaughter to Khufu and the wife of King Khafre. “Her mother, beholder of Horus and Seth, the great favourite, the controller of the butchers of the house of the...

Relief of Hetepheres II and daughter Meresankh III

A relief of the deceased Queen Meresankh III and her mother Hetepheres II sailing in the marshes to gather papyrus reeds for the ritual of ‘shaking the papyrus’ to induce the goddess Hathor to them: “Her mother, daughter of the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Khufu, the great favourite, Hetep-heres. Her beloved daughter, the...

Relief of Meresankh with short cropped hair

Meresankh III, granddaughter of Khufu

Queen Meresankh III was the daughter of Hetepheres II and the granddaughter of the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu, builder of the Great Pyramid. “The king’s daughter of his body, the beholder of Horus and Seth, companion of Horus, Meresankh.”. She was the wife of King Khafre. Meresankh was the daughter of Prince Kawab and Queen Hetepheres...

Statuette of King Khufu

Statuette of King Khufu

The Khufu Statuette or the Ivory figurine of Khufu is an ancient Egyptian statue. Historically and archaeologically significant, it was found in 1903 by Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie during excavation of Kom el-Sultan in Abydos. Despite the discovery of a few other small fragments of the king’s statues and statuettes, this ivory statuette is...

Magic knife (peseshkef) inscribed for King Khufu

Magic knife (peseshkef) inscribed for King Khufu

The peseshkef was a disntictive type of knife that was split at one end and is sometimes called a “fishtail” knife today. This fine-grained flint wand is inscribed with the name of Khufu. Ritual wands were used in the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony to allow the deceased to eat and drink once more; this...