pharaohs

(noun)

A ruler in ancient Egypt. 

Examples of pharaohs in the following topics:

  • Egyptian Pharaohs as God-Kings

    • The Ancient Egyptian pharaohs were believed to be incarnations of the god Horus, the son of the sun deity, Hathor (or, later, Isis), or Nut.
    • The increasing power and wealth of the pharaohs during the early dynastic period was reflected in their elaborate mastaba tombs and mortuary cult structures at Abydos, which were used to celebrate the deified pharaoh after his death.
    • Narmer was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the Early Dynastic Period (c. 31st century BCE).
    • He is thought to be the successor to the Protodynastic pharaohs Scorpion (or Selk) and/or Ka, and he is considered by some to be the unifier of Egypt and founder of the First Dynasty—therefore the first pharaoh of unified Egypt.
    • Explain how the first Pharaohs of Egypt developed and why they were perceived as god-kings.

  • Hatshepsut

    • Hatshepsut (1508–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Ancient Egypt.
    • A woman becoming pharaoh was rare, however, with only 3-5 preceding her as ruling solely in their own name.
    • Following the tradition of most pharaohs, Hatshepsut had monuments constructed at the Temple of Karnak.
    • She later ordered the construction of two more obelisks to celebrate her sixteenth year as pharaoh.
    • Identify the most important construction projects carried out by the Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut

  • Architecture of the Early Dynastic Period

    • Human sacrifice was practiced as part of the funerary rituals associated with all of the pharaohs of the first dynasty.
    • It is clearly demonstrated as existing during this dynasty by retainers being buried near each pharaoh's tomb as well as animals sacrificed for the burial.
    • The people and animals sacrificed, such as donkeys, were expected to assist the pharaoh in the afterlife.
    • For unknown reasons, this practice ended with the conclusion of the dynasty, with shabtis taking the place of actual people to aid the pharaohs with the work expected of them in the afterlife.
    • Measurements at the most significant temples may have been ceremonially undertaken by the pharaoh himself.

  • The New Kingdom

    • It was ruled by pharaohs Hatshepsut, Thutmose III, Akhenaten, Tutankhamun and Ramesses II.
    • The Nineteenth and Twentieth Dynasties (1292-1069 BCE) are also known as the Ramesside period, after the eleven pharaohs that took the name of Ramesses.
    • It was also during the reign of Thutmose III that the term "pharaoh," originally referring to the king's palace, became a form of address for the king.
    • The last "great" pharaoh from the New Kingdom is widely regarded to be Ramesses III.
    • The power of the last pharaoh of the dynasty, Ramesses XI, grew so weak that, in the south, the High Priests of Amun at Thebes became the de facto rulers of Upper Egypt.

  • The Third Intermediate Period

    • Consequently, the Amun priests were as powerful as the Pharaoh, if not more so.
    • In Thebes, a civil war engulfed the city between the forces of Pedubast I, a self-proclaimed pharaoh.
    • In 656 BCE, Psamtik I (last of the Twenty-sixth Dynasty kings) occupied Thebes and became pharaoh, the King of Upper and Lower Egypt.
    • Pharaoh Psamtik III succeeded his father, Ahmose II, only six months before he had to face the Persian Empire at Pelusium.
    • With the Saite kings exterminated, Camybes assumed the formal title of Pharaoh.

  • Ancient Egyptian Religion

    • The pharaoh's role was to sustain the gods in order to maintain order in the universe.
    • The pharaoh was associated with Horus (and later Amun) and seen as the son of Ra.
    • This myth set the Pharaohs, and their succession, as orderliness against chaos.
    • Nobles did receive tombs and grave gifts from the pharaoh.
    • They were both mortuary temples to serve deceased pharaohs and temples for patron gods.

  • Tutankhamun and Ramses II

    • Tutankhamun and Ramses II were two of the greatest pharaohs of the New Kingdom; they built magnificent monuments, temples, and tombs.
    • Tutankhamun was an Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, who ruled from around 1332 BC – 1323 BC.
    • Ramses II (also spelled Ramesses and referred to as Ramesses the Great), was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the 19th dynasty; he reigned from 1279 - 1213 BC.
    • He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire, known for his military expeditions and his building of cities, temples, and monuments.
    • Compare the achievements of the Egyptian pharaohs Tutankhamun and Ramses II

  • Late Egyptian Art

    • Jeremiah mentions pharaoh Apries (as Hophra, Jeremiah 44:30) whose reign came to a violent end in 570 BCE.
    • A sunken relief from a chapel at Karnak depicting Psamtik III, the final pharaoh of this dynasty, displays the maintenance of traditional conventions in representing the body.
    • A series of three pharaohs ruled from 380 BCE until their final defeat in 343 BCE led to the reoccupation by the Persians.
    • Despite changes in the sculptures of Horus and Pataikos, this image of the last pharaoh of the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty appears in the more traditional stylized form.
    • This is believed to be the only surviving annotated sculpture of the last pharaoh of the Thirtieth Dynasty.

  • Sculpture of the New Kingdom

    • Sculpture in the New Kingdom continued in the traditional Egyptian style, with many great works produced by pharaohs over the years.
    • The physical aspect of the gender of pharaohs was rarely stressed in the art, and with few exceptions, subjects were idealized.
    • The Osirian statues of Hatshepsut, located at her tomb, follow the Egyptian tradition of depicting the dead pharaoh as the god Osiris.
    • Statues typically depicted Egyptian pharaohs, often representing them as gods.
    • This famous work depicts four repeating statues of Ramses II, following the tradition of deifying pharaohs.

  • Ancient Egyptian Monuments

    • Most were placed west of the Nile, to allow the pharaoh's soul to join with the sun during its descent.
    • It is believed the face is meant to represent the Pharaoh Khafra.
    • It is believed to have been built during the reign of Pharaoh Khafra (2558-2532 BCE).
    • Pharaohs were in charge of caring for the gods, and they dedicated massive resources to this task.
    • About 30 pharaohs contributed to the buildings, creating an extremely large and diverse complex.