pharaohs

Talking about the ancient world and the first civilizations, we can meet the term Pharaoh, often used when we talk about ancient Egypt and the famous Pyramids. But what does that term means? Is that something significant? Let's find out.

• What is Pharaoh?
• What was the role of the pharaoh?
• How did pharaohs look?
• Pharaohs and pyramids.
• Most famous pharaohs.

 

What is Pharaoh?

The monarchs or kings of Egypt were called Pharaohs. This is a specific name for a ruler that can only be found in Egyptian culture. The word "pharaoh" (meaning "big house") has not always referred to a person - a king or a monarch. Actually, in the past, this term was associated with the palaces and court buildings of Egypt. Later the meaning of pharaoh became: an Egyptian ruler, monarch, or king, as we also know today.

What was the role of the pharaoh?

Pharaoh has had more roles at that time. Because religion was very important in Egypt, the pharaohs were in a way mediators between humans and gods. They have also participated in religious rituals, they have been selecting places where new temples were to be built, and the like.

Apart from their religious role, they have enacted laws, established and collected taxes, were responsible for defending the country if it was attacked, or were to issue orders for an attack to gain resources.

Until the Egyptian state was united, there were two separate states, Upper and Lower Egypt. There were two different crowns representing the kingdoms. The "Red Crown" represented the kingdom of Lower Egypt, while the "White Crown" represented the kings of the Kingdom of Upper Egypt. Later on, when the two kingdoms merge, the pharaoh's crown is a combination of these two colors or crowns.

How did pharaohs look?

The pharaohs have a distinctive look that is quite recognizable today.

Pharaohs wore a half-pleated kilt, with a pleated section drawn to the front. The pharaohs also wore leopard skins over their shoulders and a lion's tail hanging from their belt that represents the power they had. On their heads, they wore the nemes headdresses (nemes were pieces of striped headcloth).  Pharaohs wore leather or decorative sandals for special occasions. Jewelry is widely used in the pharaohs. Jewelry was an important part of their culture and it was precious and voluminous.

Pyramids, the Pharaoh's tombs

The belief that there is life after death is characteristic of religion in Egypt. The pharaohs believed that their life would continue after their death, so they built their tombs, the majestic pyramids, while alive. After their death, the pharaohs have been mummified, and have been buried in tombs, together with objects that were important to them. Mummification was a necessary process in order to preserve the body for the afterlife. Inside the pyramids, there were tombs for the pharaoh's loved ones, relatives, and servants, so life after death would be much more comfortable for them.

The most famous pharaohs

Today's list of pharaohs is 170. Most of the pharaohs were men, but there were also women pharaohs.

Egyptologists, that are people who study Egyptian culture, refer to Narmer (sometimes called Menes), who united Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt, as the first pharaoh.

• Djoser was also one of the first pharaohs. He was a pharaoh of the Third Dynasty during the Old Kingdom. He built the Step Pyramid, which is part of his funeral complex in Saqqara. The step pyramid is the work of Imhotep. Imhotep was a revered healer, sage, architect, and advisor to King Djoser.
• Akhenaten, who came to the throne as Amenhotep IV, was a pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty. He was the husband of Nefertiti and the father of one of the most famous pharaohs, Tutankhamun.

The mask of Tutankhamun

• Tutankhamun (also called the King Tut) is one of the most famous pharaohs of Egyptian culture. He is the last ruler of his royal family who ruled at the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty during the New Kingdom. He became pharaoh at the age of nine. His tomb, found at the beginning of the twentieth century, contained priceless treasures.
• Hatshepsut is a lady pharaoh who came to power as her son's regent but then becomes a real pharaoh, even dressing as a pharaoh. She is not only the most famous pharaoh woman but also considered one of the most important pharaohs in general.
• Ramses II, called the Great Ramses, is best known for building the most monuments and statues of all the other pharaohs. He was a pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty and ruled Egypt for 67 years.

Cleopatra VII

• Cleopatra VII - known as the last pharaoh of Egypt, before being annexed as a province of Rome. Cleopatra was fluent in many languages, incredibly charming, and a great diplomat. There is often talk of her love affair with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, (both Roman Generals and statesmen).