Did Pharaohs Get Seasick?: Khufu Boat Museum: Giza, Egypt
March 1, 2010 MuseumChick
Behind the Khufu (Cheops) Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt, is the Khufu Boat Museum (which unfortunately looks more like a trailer than a museum). This museum houses the original felucca of King Khufu, the builder of the Great Pyramid. This felucca, made from Lebanese cedar wood, was thought to have traveled the Nile in 2500 BC. Discovered in 1954, it took 13 years to restore and this was done by Egyptian Department of Antiquities’ chief restorer, Ahmed Yousef.
This felucca, housed in the museum, is the largest of the few found buried around the Great Pyramids. The ditches where they were excavated are still visible and the ditch where the main felucca was found is incorporated into the museum design.
When visiting the museum, the first floor takes you through visuals, photographs and writings on the process of excavating and restoring the felucca. To see the actual felucca, you must climb the staircase leading to the second floor. Flooded with sunlight from the floor to ceiling windows, the upper floor walkway takes you around the felucca where you can get up close view of its impressive size of 143 feet long and 19.5 feet wide. I was astonished not only by its size but also by its condition, considering it is over 4500 years old! It has been described by historians as the oldest, largest and best preserved vessel from antiquity.
It is believed that this boat was used as a “solar barge” or ritual barge for the sun god, or could have been used for funerary purposes.
A ditch where one of the several feluccas was excavated
The sun peeking through the clouds above the pyramid and felucca ditch
Walking to the entrance of the Khufu Boat Museum
Inside the museum, on the first floor
Upper painting- dismantled parts of the felucca shown as they were found in the pit.
Lower painting- the 41 limestone blocks found in the pit during excavation after removing the sand.
Original ropes made from Haifa grass which were used to join the boat pieces together.
Original knots used on the boat
Photograph of the excavation of the ropes in 1954
Small model built by Ahmed Yousef
Photograph of Egyptian Department of Antiquities chief restorer, Ahmed Yousef
Large model built by Ahmed Yousef
This is the original pit where the felucca was found. It is 30 meters long and was covered with 41 large blocks of limestone weighing about 18 tons each. The dismantled parts of the boat had been stacked in 13 layers. The 1,224 wooden parts were found in this pit.
Entering the sunny upper floor to view the original, restored felucca
Walking along the pathway that wraps around the felucca to get a good view of the oars
On the upper ramp you can get a close view of the bow
The cabin, also made of Lebanese cedar wood
Close-up on the cabin siding
Large windows let in lots of sunlight and give a good view of the neighboring pyramid
Overlooking the Great Pyramids of Giza
©2010 Danee Gilmartin All rights reserved
Comments
Robert Clutton 05.12.2012
thank you for this wonnderful site. I too am working on the ancient Egyptian / Phoenician presence in Australia.
Can you advise if this ship is timber dowled or stitched?
what timber was used? and where did the timber originate.
dakota 02.16.2012
hi my name is yamum
dakota 02.16.2012
hi
greg 12.22.2011
what is the name of the boat..i know its khufu’s boat but what is its name…i was told it was something like nu arc or new ark….where the story of noah’s ark was stolen. what about the pyramids found recently under the pyramids by satelite….its amazing so much info. but the name of the boat is omitted..
MuseumChick 01.17.2012
Hi Greg- Besides being called the Khufu Ship so people call it the solar ship. Hope this helps answer your question. Thanks for your comment
Hans-Dieter von Senff Ph.D. 07.20.2011
Please note. On the advice of a British Egyptologist I sent the transliteration (not translation) of Ray Johnson deciepherment of the glyphs to the British Museum to insure, that the transliteration was done according to the accepted standards of Egyptology.
Hans-Dieter von Senff 06.21.2011
Dear Martin.
In the beginning, man created gods and when they were found useless, they combined all their attributes into one, omnipotent
God, whom you call Yahwe. That is the gratest miracle of them all, the creation and maintaining of such creation myth. And you try to
tell us, that God designed the Giza Pyramid…!
Sorry, but give mankind some credit. After all, it was us who created God., not vice versa. The Giza Pyramids were created by men, not dreamt into existence by Jehovah. Have you ever seen a God sop one war ? stop one bullet fired in earnest.
Martin Cutler 06.21.2011
There is a lot of evidence that THE Great Pyramid was designed by Jehovah God, who gave the instructions of its design to Melchisedek, who was the leader of the Shepherd Kings–a nomadic tribe that subdued the Egyptians without military conflict during the 30 years of the Great Pyramid’s construction. They then moved on to settle near Jerusalem. The other pyramids on this Giza plateau are merely poor copies and not as large as the Great Pyramid. I had the privilege of investigating the GP’s interior passages on 2 separate trips–one of which I was allowed to enter the Pit at the bottom of the descending passageway. There are 7 distinct features that show God designed this GP. There never were any hieroglyphics nor a sarcophagus in the GP. If you are interested, I can show you how God put His name in the GP and how He designed it as a corroboration to the major teachings of His Word, the Bible. I’ve visited a lot of the major art museums of Europe and USA, but I have never found a sculpture as grand and beautiful in its design and execution as the GP.
Hans-Dieter von Senff, Ph.D. 06.15.2011
Is the Khufu ship of a single hull or double hull construction and what are the dimensions between the ribs. Is this information available ?
Thanking you.
Hans-Dieter von Senff Ph.D. 06.3.2011
Re: Grave build by Nefer-Dejeseb for his brother Nefer-Ti-Ru at Kariong, N.S.W.
I think, someone gave the boat at Giza the wrong name, as it does look nothing like the sunboat glypth with the solar panel at the rear. Also the cabin serves no proper pupose, if it was used to carry Khufu across the Nile.
If Khufu had wanted to use it, it would not have been disassembled only to be re-assembled in afterlife, ready to use.
as Khufu had plenty of Labor power, he would not have hessitated, to bury the boat, fully rigged at giza.
As the boat is with 43 meter length greater that James Cook’s Endeavour, with which he circumnavigated the world, then Khufu’s boat was big enough to reach Australia. Because of the Cabin, I am inclined to classify it as a long distance Trading vessel, because the vessels on the label of Abydos, engraved in Ivory have a similar shape, except the walls are higher.
Was this a copy of the boat that was buried by Khufu for his two son’s, Nefer-Ti-Ru, who died of snakebite at Kariong, N.S.W. and
Nefer-Djeseb, who build his grave at Kariong ?
P.S.
Are you interested in the english translation of the Old Egyptian hieroglyphics and pictures of the hitherto unknown underground chamber “Ges” and one of the three doors to Eternity, as well as other material? If so, please send E-mail adress.
Dr. Hans-Dieter von Senff
Hans-Dieter von Senff 06.7.2011
Dear Danee.
Enclosed is the english translation of the archaic Glyphs at Kariong. As Nefer Djeseb states, that he arrived by ship, I feel that any such research should be share, because of it’s historical importance.
Hope you enjoy the translation. Hans
Is this Australia’s oldest written record?
The English Translation of the Kariong Glyphs.
Thus speaks his Highness the Prince from this wretched place within this land, transported there by ship. Doing this writing for the Crown of Lower Egypt, according to God’s Words.
The fellaheen call out from this place in this strange land, for Suti.
I, Nefer-Djeseb, Son of the King Khufu, The King of Upper and Lower Egypt, beloved of “Ptah” have transported “Suti”
“He (Nefer-Ti-Ru) is kind (and) benevolent, (a) follower (of the) golden-haired God, “Ra-Heru.” “Two years that I (He ?) make way westwards, I (He, Nefer Ti-Ru) (put) up strong front, praying, joyful, smiting Insects. His Highness, a Servant of God, He (say’s) God brings the Insects, thus thine own Fellaheen protect.”
The snake bit twice, all those behind the divine Lord of Khufu, the Lord of the two Adzes , mighty one of LOWER EGYPT. Not all go back. (we are) marching forward, (we) do not look back.
(We) all damaged the Boat at low tide. Our boat is tied up. The snake caused the death.
(We) gave half an egg (from Medicine) Box (or Chest),
(and) prayed to the Hidden One, for he was struck twice.”
A hard road, we all wept over the body, keeping to that,
which is allowed. “Seated (by) the Side way.” “With concern and deep love, (the) Fellaheen.
Plants wilting, Land dying, is this my lot from the most high God, of the sacred Mer.
The Sun pours down upon (my back), O! Khepera, most High, this is not as the Oracle said. My Obelisk is overturned, but not broken.
The bandaged one is confined, Here, The Red Earth Region.” Then
of Time to grow, (i.e. Spring), We walled in with local Stones the entrance to the side chamber.
I counted and impounded the daggers (of the) Fellaheen.
The three doors to Eternity are connected to the rear end
behind the bulwark (of the Grave).
A Necklace placed by his side. A Royal Token, signifying
Heavens Gift, as from thou…! O Holy Shining Ones.
Taken across (to) private sanctuary (of this) Tomb.
(Along with) the Silver Dagger, a Royal Token (of the) Great Maker.
Separated from (the city of) “ PENU” (is) the Royal Body (and from) all others. That Regal Person that came from the House of God, Nefer-ti-ru, the Son of Khufu, King of Upper and Lower Egypt , who died before, is laid to rest.
He is not of this place. His home is Penu. Return him to his town .
One third of (the) fruits, I myself divided for the burial service.
Hold his Spirit with love, O most High.
Worms in the basket of fruit, going into (him), shall not be.
May he have Life, everlasting. Am I not to go back besides the Waters of the Sacred Mer . Then clasp him, my Brother’s Spirit to thy side, O Father of the Earth.
*
This translation shows the deep humanity and sorrow expressed by Nefer-Djeseb about the demise of his brother, the Prince and Priest Nefer-Ti-Ru. But it is sug-gested, because the writings show such deep emotions, that it cannot be compared to the formal wri-tings of the “Books of the Dead” as entered on graves of the Kings, Queens, Princesses or Princes, in order to cheat death in securing an afterlife.
MuseumChick 07.26.2011
Hello Dr. Hans-Dieter von Senff,
This is very extensive and I assume was very time consuming. Thank you so much for all this interesting information!
Hans-Dieter von Senff Ph.D. 06.1.2011
Very impressive, as I am researching the ability of such ships to reach Australia (Kariong Glyphs). Are there any other shapes of Egyptian ships known, such as are engraved into Ivory that were founnd by Petrie at Abydos ? the shape of the ship at Kariong differs
Khufu 09.11.2010
Thank you for this wonderful post. I enjoyed the photos so much.
First, let me tell you that you been so lucky yo have taken pictures, since it's not allowed anymore
I wonder why everybody is using the term "Feluca" whenever talking about ancient Egyptian boats.
This term is purely Arabic and it's a shame that we started giving away the Pharaonic culture for the Arab one.
However, the post was great, thank you!
Adam, Egyptology Courses and Contests.
http://www.ancient-egypt-history.com/