Mr. Lauta

The Pharaoh

NARMER First Egyptian pharaoh to conquer and rule Upper and Lower Egypt Also known as Menes

groups. These groups had much in common: Upper and Lower Egypt The people who lived along the Nile banded together into two main groups. These groups had much in common: Lower Egypt    Upper Egypt The same culture The same language The same gods

A. Unlike Sumeria, no independent city-states in Egypt UNITED EGYPT’S GOVERNMENT A. Unlike Sumeria, no independent city-states in Egypt B. Menes, the king of Upper Egypt, 1. united the two regions – Upper and Lower – in 3,100 B.C.E. 2. Capital: Memphis 3. Creates first Egyptian dynasty C. The Pharaoh [means, royal house] – the ruler of Egypt 1. were considered gods; served both political and religious roles Type of government where the political rulers are thought to be divinely-guided, or even divine themselves is a theocracy. Before 3000 B.C., there was the white crown of Upper Egypt and the red crown of Lower Egypt. When Egypt was united, these two crowns were combined into the Double Crown of Upper and Lower Egypt. PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

2. Believed each pharaoh ruled even after death, because they all possessed the same eternal spirit = ka; and being gods, they naturally bore full responsibility for Egypt’s well-being. 3. Therefore, the Pharaoh’s tomb were very important, because it was still a place of rule. They built massive tombs called pyramids. The pyramids were built mainly in the Old Kingdom Period.

The Sphinx and Pyramid of Khafre at Giza. PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S.

Most Powerful Egyptian The most powerful person in ancient Egypt Political and religious leader Two titles “Lord of the Two Lands” “High Priest of Every Temple”

“Lord of the Two Lands” Ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt Owned all of the land Made laws Collected taxes Defended Egypt against foreigners

“High Priest of Every Temple” Represented the gods on Earth Performed rituals and built temples to honor the gods

As Warrior Went to war when their land was threatened or when they wanted to control foreign lands If the pharaoh won the battle, the conquered people had to recognize the Egyptian pharaoh as their ruler and offer him the finest and most valuable goods from their land

THE PYRAMIDS

“Houses of Eternity” Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for the pharaohs and their queens The pharaohs were buried in pyramids of many different shapes and sizes from before the beginning of the Old Kingdom to the end of the Middle Kingdom.

Old Kingdom Period of ancient Egyptian history that lasted from about 2686 B.C. to 2181 B.C.

Middle Kingdom Period of ancient Egyptian history that lasted from about 2055 B.C. to 1650 B.C.

Inside the Pyramid King’s Chamber  Queen’s Chamber   Air Shaft Chambers  King’s Chamber   Grand Gallery Queen’s Chamber   Ascending Passage Connecting Passage   Descending Passage  Underground Chamber

The King’s Chamber Burial chamber of the pharaoh Granite sarcophagus in the corner Mummy and all of his funerary goods for the next life

Queen’s Chamber It was never meant to be the burial chamber for a queen Khufu's queens had their own separate pyramids built nearby This chamber may have been built as a room to hold Khufu's funerary objects

Chambers Above King’s Chamber Five rough chambers Helped to shift the weight of the heavy stones at the top of the pyramid off the inner chambers

Casing Blocks When the pyramid was almost finished, casing blocks of white limestone were laid on top of the main pyramid blocks Each casing block was then trimmed so that the outer surface of the pyramid would be smooth and white

Pyramidion (Top Block) At the very top, a block of stone in the shape of a pyramid Probably covered with a thin sheet of either gold, electrum (a mixture of gold and silver), or some other metal that would reflect the rays of the sun. 

About eighty pyramids known today from ancient Egypt Three largest and best-preserved of these were built at Giza at the beginning of the Old Kingdom Most well-known was built for the pharaoh Khufu -- known as the 'Great Pyramid'

Outside the Pyramid The Great Pyramid was part of a complex that included a special walkway, two temples, other pyramids, boat pits and the mastabas of nobles Mastabas are early ancient Egyptian tomb which have an underground burial chamber and an above ground offering chapel

Queens’ Pyramids Small pyramids built on the eastern side of the pyramid -- built for Khufu's queens 

Satellite Temple Believed to be a symbolic tomb for the pharaoh’s ka (spirit) 

Mortuary Temple Believed to be where offerings were left and daily rituals were carried out for the king 

Causeway Long walkway that joined the valley temple and the mortuary temple Would have had walls decorated with paintings and a ceiling with painted stars 

Boat Pit   Believed to represent the bark that the pharaoh would travel in after he died Others believe that these boats were actually used in Khufu's funeral procession across the Nile

Enclosing Wall   Wall wrapped around the base of the pyramid Between the pyramid and the wall there was a narrow courtyard that could only be entered through the valley temple  

Valley Temple  At end of causeway Believed to be where the pharaoh's funeral began

Mastabas   Mastabas   Tombs of nobles who wanted to be buried close to their pharaoh so that they would stay close to him in the next life

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