The Role of the Pharaoh

Leader of Ancient Egypt

Picture This… 8,000 years ago, before the pyramids,

before the sphinx, before the Pharaohs… everyone was using the Nile waters but there were arguments over who had the rights to use it

What types of arguments might they have been having?

Can you suggest a solution to this problem?

Put someone in charge of monitoring the

distribution of water!

That person became King and had power over life and death

Over time the position became more and more important and eventually developed into the role we now call Pharaoh

At first there were a couple of kings Can you see them on the Narmer

Palette, a primary source?

Here is a hint… look for one of the two crowns

Deshret – the red crown of Lower Egypt

Hedjet – the white crown of Upper Egypt

Now… try again

This is a story that tells how the “couple” of kings merged into one Pharaoh The story of Narmer who conquered Lower

Egypt and became the first Pharaoh Can you work it out?

Here is another source… How can you tell there is only one pharaoh now?

Pschent – Double Crown of Egypt

Pharaoh is on the left

Role of the Pharaoh Pharaoh means “great

house” Had many roles in his

kingdom Watched over law courts Chief of the temples Led army Controlled trade

expeditions Supervised water system Stored grain

Role of the Pharaoh, cont’d Ancient Egyptians

believed that each pharaoh was a living god in the human form of Horus

Pharaohs pleased the gods which brought good fortune to all of Egypt

Transported on a chair carried by servants

Pharaoh Symbols Items which stood for

kingship: Crowns, which were

headdresses with jewels, stood for “Supreme Rank”

False beards, worn by kings and queens, stood for royal authority

Scepter carried by kings and queens also meant royal authority

A Day in the Life of a Pharaoh Please the gods by going

to the temple(s) and praying

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Check on building projects Entertained by servants or

spend time with wives (if he had leisure time)

Sources Trekearth.com Studyblue.com Ancientegypt.co.uk Goddesschess.blogspot.com Redbubble.com Euler.sul.edu