Khufu
INTRODUCTION
The visions of strong men and women can stretch through time and still create a sense of wonder and awe. Though history has, perhaps unfairly, painted Khufu as a cruel leader, he managed to take his vision for a great pyramid in the desert and turn it into reality, proving for all generations that nothing is truly impossible.

Khufu was the 4th Dynasty Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt’s Old Kingdom who built the Great Pyramid of Giza, the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing.
 
Khufu’s full name, Khnum-Khufwy, means ‘[the god] Khnum protect me.’ Khufu believed that he was protected by a higher power, giving him the confidence and foresight to build a pyramid as impressive as the Great Pyramid.
 
According to legend, Khufu’s father, King Sneferu, taught him the art of pyramid building. Although each of Sneferu’s pyramids were smaller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, the total volume of stone used in Sneferu’s monuments is the largest of all pharaohs in history.
 
Rumors whispered throughout ancient Egypt hinted that Khufu was a great sorcerer with otherworldly powers used to construct his massive projects; of course, modern historians have discounted such rumors.
 
The Great Pyramid demonstrated Khufu’s unprecedented amount of technological advancement, intelligence, and architectural perseverance.
 
The entire project of the Great Pyramid of Giza took over 20 years to complete and used 2.3 million building blocks, weighing an average of 2.5 tons each.
 
The magnitude of the Great Pyramid exemplifies the brilliance of Khufu’s ability to command the material and human resources of his nation throughout his 23-year reign.
 
WHY HE IS A HERO
Heroes are persistent. Win or lose, they follow their visions to the very end. Though it took Khufu over 20 years to build his Great Pyramid, his unflagging devotion to the project assured its success.

New technologies were created, architects and artisans were brought in to design and decorate the massive structure, and human labor was hired and carefully managed (though "exploited" might be a more appropriate word in this case).

Such a massive undertaking was heroic in and of itself, but it's Khufu's steadfast determination to see this radical achievement to completion that makes him a hero worth study.