Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt

Pharaohs Pharaohs were the kings of Egypt Pharaoh was believed by the Egyptians to be the supreme ruler chosen by the gods to lead his people They believed that when a man became a pharaoh, he also became a god According to Egyptian legend, the first kings of Egypt were later some of the most famous gods

Pharaohs The title “Pharaoh” originated from the Greek language and it is used in the Old Testament Meaning: “Great House” Shared resources with the people in return for taxes and obedience.

Responsibility of Pharaohs Pharaohs ruled with absolute power Complete control over all their people Despite absolute power the Pharaoh’s rule was subject to Ma’at and was expected to govern according its principles Ma’at was the goddess and symbol of the equilibrium of the universe Any King that attempted to radically change society would be seen as destroying the equilibrium that was so important to Egyptian tradition resulting in civil war or a challenge in his authority

Pharaohs Regalia Hedjet (symbol of upper Egypt) Deshret (symbol of lower Egypt) Pschent (symbolized the king’s rule of both Upper and Lower Egypt)

Menes (c. 3100 – 3050 B.C.E.) Considered the first pharaoh of Ancient Egypt United Upper and Lower Egypt Also known as Narmer First to wear the Pschent

Menes (c. 3100 – 3050 B.C.E.) Given the credit for founding Memphis According to a papyrus, Menes reigned for about 62 years and was killed by a hippopotamus.

Djoser ( 2630-2611B.C.E) Reign lasted about 19 years Great technological advances in the use of stone architecture First stepped pyramid Saqaura

Sneferu ( 2611-2589B.C.E) Credited with building the first smooth-sided pyramid. Built at least three famous pyramids that survive to this day including the Bent Pyramid Introduced major innovations in the design and construction of pyramids in Ancient Egypt.

Snefru's Bent Pyramid in Dahshur

The Red Pyramid of Sneferu

The Meidum Pyramid

Khufu (2589-2566 B.C.E) Greek name Cheops Most remembered for building Great Pyramid of Giza ( stood 481 feet tall) Not much is known about Khufu besides being Sneferu’s son and building the Great Pyramid Herodutus said he used slaves to eHe also describes Khufu as a cruel and wicked leader who prostituted his daughter when he ran short of money. But the Westcar Papyrus describes Khufu as a traditional oriental monarch: good-natured, amiable to his inferiors and interested in the nature of human existence

Khufu’s Great Pyramid

Khafra Son of Khufu Built the second largest pyramid at Giza and the Sphinx Many suggest the face of the Sphinx is Khafra. Rumors that he murdered brother to get the throne.

The Sphinx

Thutmose I (1493-1482 B.C.E.) Expanded Egypt into Nubia ( present day Sudan) and as far east as Syria. First king to build a tomb in the Valley of the Kings After his Nubian war Thutmose penetrated to the Euphrates River in the vicinity of Carchemish in Syria as he continued the pursuit of the Hyksos, Asiatic rulers who had recently dominated Egypt. One of the texts from Nubia states that already before the Syrian foray, Thutmose claimed the Euphrates as his border. Although no evidence of earlier campaigns survives, the Nubian text implies that deep penetration of Syria had already occurred.

Hatshepsut (c. 1470-1450 B.C.E) Daughter of Thutmose I and wife of Thutmose II. Became regent whenTHutmose II died and the new pharaoh was very young (son of a minor wife) regent- Someone who rules for a child until the child is old enough to rule for him/herself Seven years later she declared herself “king” and began wearing the false beard and garments of a pharaoh Power grab was controversial so wanted to reinvent image Knowing that her power grab was highly controversial, Hatshepsut fought to defend its legitimacy, pointing to her royal lineage and claiming that her father had appointed her his successor. She sought to reinvent her image, and in statues and paintings of that time, she ordered that she be portrayed as a male pharaoh, with a beard and large muscles. In other images, however, she appeared in traditional female regalia. Hatshepsut surrounded herself with supporters in key positions in government, including Senenmut, her chief minister. Some have suggested Senenmut might also have been Hatshepsut’s lover, but little evidence exists to support this claim

Hatshepsut (c. 1470- 1450 B.C.E) Extended Egyptian trade and oversaw ambitious building projects, most notably the memorial temple of Deir el-Bahri, located in western Thebes. Egypt prospered while she was in power as she established famous trade and economic expedition Prolific builder and commissioned many architectural projects and the restoration of older temples. Had her father buried with her. HATSHEPSUT’S DEATH AND LEGACY Hatshepsut probably died around 1458 B.C., when she would have been in her mid-40s. She was buried in the Valley of the Kings, located in the hills behind Deir el-Bahri. In another effort to legitimize her reign, she had her father’s sarcophagus reburied in her tomb so they could lie together in death. Thutmose III went on to rule for 30 more years, proving to be both an ambitious builder like his stepmother and a great warrior. Late in his reign, Thutmose III had almost all of the evidence of Hatshepsut’s rule–including the images of her as king on the temples and monuments she had built–eradicated, possibly to erase her example as a powerful female ruler, or to close the gap in the dynasty’s line of male succession. As a consequence, scholars of ancient Egypt knew little of Hatshepsut’s existence until 1822, when they were able to decode and read the hieroglyphics on the walls of Deir el-Bahri. In 1903, the British archeologist Howard Carter discovered Hatshepsut’s sarcophagus (one of three that she had prepared) but it was empty, like nearly all of the tombs in the Valley of the Kings. After launching a new search in 2005, a team of archaeologists discovered her mummy in 2007; it is now housed in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.

Hatshepsut

Thutmose III (c. 1450 B.C.E.) Pushed into the background as Hatshepsut( step-mother and aunt ruled Egypt a 20 year period) Took throne when Hatshepsut died. Believed as an act of revenge or retribution, he destroyed as many of Hatshepsut's statues, monuments, and buildings. He is remembered as “the Napoleon of Egypt;” a great warrior king who expanded the empire to its greatest size through his successful military campaigns Wealth of the New kingdom came from tributes paid by people he conquered

Thutmose III (c. 1450 B.C.E.)

Akhenaton (c. 1350 B.C.E.) Original name was Amonhotep IV but his name to Akhenaton which means “he who serves Aton” Married to Nefertiti First attempt at radically changing the polytheistic Egyptian religion with a monotheistic religion Wanted to change the Egyptian supreme god from Amon-Re to Aton Built a new city called Akhetaton which contained new priests and government More concerned with building his vision of a new society than focusing on war and conquest Religious revolution led to tension and revolt in Egypt

Akhenaton (c. 1350 B.C.E.)

Nefertiti (c. 1370-1330 B.C.E.) Queen of Egypt, who was married to Akhenaten (Amenhotep IV) and is known as the most beautiful woman in history In artwork, her status is evident and indicates that she had almost as much influence as her husband For example, she is depicted nearly twice as often in reliefs as her husband, at least during the first five years of his reign It is believed that Nefertiti was active in the religious and cultural changes initiated by her husband (some even maintain that it was she who initiated the new religion) She also had the position as a priest, and she was a devoted worshipper of the god Aten.

Nefertiti

Tutankhamen (c. 1334 B.C.E.) Known as the Boy King of Egypt, he came to the throne when his father Akhenaton died, he became King around age nine Helped restore Egypt's old beliefs from when his father tried to make Egypt a monotheism society and moved the capital back to Thebes Died suddenly at the young age of 18 by a blow to the back of his head Since his tomb had not yet been made, he was laid in a tomb of a member of the nobility He is famous today because of his tomb being found intact by archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922

Tutankhamen (c. 1334 B.C.E.) Click on pics for two short videos

Ramses II (c. 1290 B.C.E.) Went to the throne at the age of 20 and reigned for 67 years; the second longest reign for any Egyptian King Considered to be the last great Egyptian King bringing Egypt peace and stability Probably the most prolific of the ancient Egyptian pharaohs, siring over 100 children with more than a dozen wives

Ramses II (c. 1290 B.C.E.) Signed earliest known peace treaty in world history after the Battle of Kadesh with the new Hittite king Ramses is remembered for constructing many architectural marvels including the two huge temples at Abu Simbel Constructed more colossal statues, large statues of human or human like figures, than any other Egyptian King Ruled during the time of Moses and used many Jewish slaves to build his monuments and statues

Ramses the Great’s Tomb

Ptolemy I A Macedonian general under Alexander the Great, who became ruler of Egypt and started the Ptolemaic dynasty

Cleopatra (c. 30 B.C.E.) Last independent ruler of Egypt Not of Egyptian lineage; descended from Ptolemy who was a general in Alexander the Great’s army (Greek Ptolemy family ruled Egypt for 300 years) She is best known for her beauty who seduced Caesar and fell in love with Marc Antony Co- ruler with brother Disagreement led to Cleopatra fleeing to Syria Rounded up mercenaries and fought to get solo control of throne

Cleopatra (c. 30 B.C.E.) Committed suicide when Octavian forces invaded Egypt Marc Antony stabbed himself Cleopatra is believed to have a cobra bite her After her death, Egypt was ruled as a Roman province. Cleopatra believed herself to be a living goddess, and she often used clever stagecraft to woo potential allies and reinforce her divine status. A famous example of her flair for the dramatic came in 48 B.C., when Julius Caesar arrived in Alexandria during her feud with her brother Ptolemy XIII. Knowing Ptolemy’s forces would thwart her attempts to meet with the Roman general, Cleopatra had herself wrapped in a carpet—some sources say it was a linen sack—and smuggled into his personal quarters. Caesar was dazzled by the sight of the young queen in her royal garb, and the two soon became allies and lovers. Cleopatra later employed a similar bit of theater in her 41 B.C. encounter with Mark Antony. When summoned to meet the Roman Triumvir in Tarsus, she is said to have arrived on a golden barge adorned with purple sails and rowed by oars made of silver. Cleopatra had been made up to look like the goddess Aphrodite, and she sat beneath a gilded canopy while attendants dressed as cupids fanned her and burned sweet-smelling incense. Antony—who considered himself the embodiment of the Greek god Dionysus—was instantly enchanted.