Concept in Definition ABC

The title or denomination of pharaoh was undoubtedly the most important that someone could display in the civilization of Ancient Egypt because that is how the sovereigns, kings, of those parts are called. The pharaoh was the supreme ruler of the Egyptian lands and not only possessed political power but who also had religious power considering that he was a descendant of the same gods.

The pharaoh was located at the top of the Egyptian social pyramid and had all the privileges as well as all the power of decision on population region of. We could equate this position with that held by European monarchs during the era of supremacy of Monarchical Absolutism.

Position that was inherited or held by the lineage

The access to power by the pharaoh had to do with the inheritance and the lineage, something similar to what happened with the kings of Absolutism. When it was believed that the pharaohs belonged to reigning castes descendants of the same god Horus or Ra (depending on the historical moment of the Egyptian civilization). As such, the pharaoh was in charge of all political, religious and economic powers. Below the pharaoh was the

family royal, composed of his wife or Great Royal Wife and his children. Then, the nobles and officials who accompanied him in his tasks followed. Slaves were located at the bottom of the social pyramid and were undoubtedly the social group more numerous, always at the service of Pharaoh.

Characteristic attributes of the pharaoh

Historians have pointed out numerous characteristic elements of the pharaoh, those that gave him power over others and that placed him closer to the gods. Among these symbols we must mention the Nemes or cloth that was placed on his head, generally striped, the scourge and the crook in his arms, the false beard, the Uraeus or cobra that was located on the head, necklaces, clothes of great wealth and delicacy, jewels of all kinds that generally represented the characteristic animals of the region.

The Pyramids, their places of rest and worship

One of the elements of Egyptian civilization most closely related to the pharaoh have been the famous pyramids. They were built at the request of the pharaoh with the aim of becoming his chamber of rest and his eternal connection with the gods. To preserve the body of the pharaoh once he died, and thus allow him to pass into the afterlife, he was mummified and buried along with all his belongings and wealth. It was believed that in this way, the pharaoh could face the final judgment and be greeted by the gods in the afterlife.

Origin of the position and duration in time

We must say about this important position, which began approximately in the year 3,000 B.C. with the First Pharaoh Narmer and forerunner of Dynasty I, and according to some historians he had ruled as such for 62 years.

The duration of the position of pharaoh was for life, that is, whoever assumed as such was until his death or until the moment of his abdication by some reason.

Pharaoh's function would come to an end in 30 BC. from the hand of Cleopatra VII and as we see it was not only a position that lasted a long time but was also disputed by women.

Notable Pharaohs: Cleopatra VII

Egyptian history is full of important pharaohs who left a mark at that time, Thutmosis, Amenotep, Akhenaten, Tutankhamun, Ramses, Queen Hatshepsut, but no place to doubts, the just mentioned Cleopatra, the last of all the rulers of Ancient Egypt, has been the one who left the most mark in the history of the position as a result of her overwhelming personality and also of the beauty of it.

Nor can we ignore in that charm that Cleopatra knew how to awaken her love ties with two characters in Roman history, the military Julio César and Marco Antonio with whom she knew how to be romantically involved and many maintain that she drove at her whim, a fact that also allowed her to be sovereign of lands of Roman empire.

Cleopatra's death not only went down in history because it marked the end of the pharaohs but also because of the circumstances of her death. Cleopatra committed suicide before the imminence of being captured by hers, her arch enemy Octavian of Rome. An Egyptian cobra, which she asked of her employees, was the way that Cleopatra used to put an end to her existence.

Photos: iStock - mjbs / MR1805

Themes in Pharaoh