Khufu, in Greek, Cheops, Egyptian king (reigned 2551-2528 bc). Khufu was the second king of the 4th Dynasty, also known as the Memphite dynasty. The outstanding event of his reign was the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza, near Cairo. This colossal monument became famous as one of the Seven Wonders of the World and remains one of the most notable structures in the history of architecture. In 1954 the 38-m (125-ft) solar funeral ship of Khufu was discovered near the Great Pyramid. In the ritual of the funerary cult as practiced by Khufu and his contemporaries, such vessels were constructed to transport souls of the departed through the heavens in the path of the sun god.