Reading Check: Lesson 9: Sections 2 and 3

Section 2:  Pharaoh Khufu: The Pyramid Builder (Part 1) 

The pharaoh Khufu (KOO-foo) ruled from about 2551 to 2528 B.C.E., during the Old Kingdom period. Today, he is best known as the architect of a famous pyramid.

Not much is known about Khufu. Some stories describe him as a cruel, harsh ruler. Others say that he was powerful but kind.

Historians do know that Khufu helped establish the pharaoh as a central authority. For example, he maintained strict control over Egypt's food supply. He oversaw the harvest and the storage of extra grain. He also controlled a large network of government officials who enforced his laws. Khufu emphasized his supreme power by declaring himself a god.

Section 2:  Pharaoh Khufu: The Pyramid Builder (Part 2) 

Khufu and other Old Kingdom pharaohs had magnificent pyramids built as tombs for themselves and their families. Khufu was responsible for the building of the Great Pyramid at Giza, one of the wonders of the ancient world.

The Great Pyramid sat at the center of a huge complex of temples, statues, monuments, and smaller tombs. It was made of more than 2 million stone blocks, perfectly fitted together. Inside, tunnels led to several burial chambers. The king's chamber had six roofs to hold up the weight of the stone layers above it.

Building the Great Pyramid was an amazing feat. No one knows exactly how the Egyptians constructed it, but it took about 20 years to complete. Khufu had strict control of the project, organizing and feeding thousands of workers. The finished pyramid was a stunning monument to Egyptian engineering.

Section 3: Pharaoh Senusret: Patron of the Arts (Part 1)

The pharaoh Senusret I (SEHN-oos-ret) ruled from about 1971 to 1926 B.C.E., during the Middle Kingdom. He was a strong leader who ruled a stable, unified Egypt. Art, literature, and architecture flourished during his reign.

The arts thrived during Senusret’s rule. The pharaoh controlled mines filled with gold, copper, and gems such as purple amethyst. Artisans fashioned these materials into beautiful, highly detailed pieces of jewelry, such as bracelets and necklaces decorated with stones like turquoise.

Some of the greatest works in Egyptian literature were written during Senusret’s reign. “The Story of Sinuhe” tells of a young official named Sinuhe who overhears a plot to kill the pharaoh. Fearing for his own life, Sinuhe flees Egypt. He thrives in his new land but grows very homesick. When a new pharaoh calls him home, Sinuhe returns joyfully to Egypt.

Section 3: Pharaoh Senusret: Patron of the Arts (Part 2)

Senusret’s greatest accomplishments were in religious architecture. He had many temples, shrines, and religious monuments constructed and improved.

Perhaps Senusret’s finest architectural achievement was the White Chapel. (A chapel is a small temple.) It was made of alabaster, a hard white stone. Some historians think that the chapel was originally covered in a thin layer of gold.

Beautiful artwork decorated the chapel’s pillars. Carved scenes showed the pharaoh with various gods. Birds, animals, and Egyptian symbols were depicted.

Senusret wanted his memory to live on through his monuments, but few of his buildings survived the passage of time. A later pharaoh took the White Chapel apart and used the pieces in a monument of his own. Archaeologists discovered the pieces and reconstructed the White Chapel.