Sneferu (Snefru or Snofru – “he of beauty”) may have been the son of Huni by a minor wife, Queen Meresankh I. He married Hetepheres I, the daughter of Huni (by another wife) to cement his position. He was the first pharaoh of the fourth dynasty and his children had a major impact on the Egyptian culture: Khufu, built the Great Pyramid; Nefermaat I and Kanefer were his Viziers; and Ankhhaf was the Vizier of his nephew Khafre. His other sons included Netjeraperef, Rahotep, Ranefer and Iynefer. His daughters included Meritites I (the wife of Khufu) Hetepheres A (the wife of Ankhhaf), Nefertnesu and Nefertkau.
His expeditions into the Lebanon to fetch cedar wood are recorded in the Palermo stone. He built three large pyamids, the “collapsed pyramid” at Meidum, the Bent Pyramid and the Red Pyramid at Dashur, and at least one of the seven small pyramids.
Pharaoh’s Names
- Manetho; Soris
Nebty: Nebmaat
Golden Horus name; bk nbw (Golden Falcon)
Nomen; Sneferu (Abydos Kings List)
Nomen; Sneferu (Turin Kings List)
Nomen; Sneferu
Nomen; Sneferu
copyright J Hill 2010