Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs

The Pharaohs of ancient Egypt could be male or female. The Egyptians accepted a king or a queen as their ruler. They did not care about what sex their royality was. The last real ruler of ancient Egypt was the well known Cleopatra. Egyptians didn't called kings, pharaohs, they were instead called nesu. The word pharaoh in fact stemmed from the Greek foreign language and suggested "wonderful house." The Egyptian Pharaoh The Egyptian state itself was a monarchy. The king held sole legal power, he set laws and decrees, and regulated officials and priests to carry out all his activities. He was the one who had the final say on everything. Every good king has a team of advisors, and an Egyptian king was no different. The acting vizier was the most important official for the state of Egypt.

The pharaoh was also the commander of the military. An Egyptian king was always physically present during military campaigns. The king was considered godly and by being on the battlefield, the men would be more encouraged. It was also the king who determined if the nation was going to be at war or peace. Ancient Egyptian kings were thought of as godly. The pharaoh was believed to be an incarnation of Horus, the falcon god. A new king's ascent to the throne began with the burial of his predecessor, just like Horus doing the last rites of Osiris after he was slain by his own brother Seth. By acting as Horus in the burial ritual, a non-royal Egyptian could become a pharaoh. The pharaohs of ancient Egypt were usually announced during the reign of the existing king. Typically it was the honor of the eldest son. Sometimes the inheritor co-ruled with his father until his death. The pharaoh, or king, was the central figure of religion, administration, and culture in ancient Egypt. The king identified the religion that was to be worshipped and practiced during his reign. Ancient Egyptians thought the king was responsible for keeping order in the land and to guard them from foreign invasion. The pharaoh was additionally responsible for keeping the gods satisfied so Egypt would be blessed by having prosperous trade and a sturdy economic climate.