Egyptian Pharaohs
Who were the Pharaohs?
Pharaohs were the king or Queen of Egypt. Most pharaohs were men but some wellknown pharaohs, such as Hatshepsut and Cleopatra, were women.
A Pharaoh was the most important and powerful person in the kingdom. He was the
head of the government and high priest of every temple. The people of Egypt
considered the pharaoh to be a half-man, half-god.
The Pharaoh owned all of Egypt.
Duties of a Pharaoh
◌ Establish and collect Taxes
◌ Initiate and oversee construction
◌ Protect Egypt from enemies
◌ Represent the people to their gods, and gods to the people
◌ Store food in case of drought
◌ Initiate trade with other countries
◌ Lead troops into battle
◌ Preserve order and justice
Who was the first king/pharaoh of Egypt?
The first true pharaoh of Egypt was Narmer (sometimes called Menes), who united Lower Egypt and
Upper Egypt.
The story of Ancient Egypt begins from when the north and the south were united as one country under
the first pharaoh Menes.
Which God did the people think their Pharaoh was?
The Ancient Egyptians believed that their Pharaoh was the god Horus, son of Re, the sun god. When a
pharaoh died he was believed to be united with the sun and then a new Horus ruled on earth.
Where were Pharaohs buried?
At first Egyptian kings were buried in pyramids. About 50 royal pyramids have survived. In later years,
Egyptian kings were buried in tombs in the Valley of the Kings at Thebes. These tombs were tunnels cut
deep into the natural rock.
Great Leaders of Egypt
How did Egypt’s most powerful rulers leave their marks on history?
The pharaohs ruled Egypt for 3,000 years, leaving behind great monuments, elaborate cities, and fascinating
histories. Because many ancient historians mixed true history with legends, there are often conflicting
accounts of pharaohs’ lives. Still, among all of the pharaohs to have ruled Egypt, there are several whose
impact on history has been particularly important.