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Primary sourceSculpturec. 2551–2528 BCE

Relief Fragment with King Khufu's Cattle

c. 2551–2528 BCE

A carved limestone fragment showing cattle and offering figures, made during King Khufu's reign and now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A direct survival from Khufu's own reign, showing his cattle and a rare glimpse of imagery from his time.

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Photograph of a rectangular limestone relief fragment on a dark background. Carved figures include three cattle with long curved horns in profile, and small figures of a seated official and offering stands above them, with a cartouche-like panel at upper right. The stone edges are rough and broken.
Relief fragment with King Khufu's cattle, Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4, reign of Khufu. Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this source

What it is

This limestone relief fragment shows carved cattle with curved horns, along with small figures of a seated official and offering stands, with a cartouche-like panel nearby. It dates to the Old Kingdom, Dynasty 4, during the reign of Khufu, and is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Why it matters

Scenes of cattle and offerings were common in Old Kingdom tomb and temple decoration, showing the wealth and food supplies linked to the king and his officials. As a rare surviving object from Khufu's own reign, it gives a direct glimpse of the imagery used at the time, rather than a later copy or description.

Look closer

  • What do the cattle and offering figures suggest about daily life and wealth in this period?
  • Why might scenes like this be carved in connection with a king's name?
  • What parts of the scene are broken away, and how might that limit what we can learn?

This sculpture is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops) on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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