The Pharaoh's Role In Ancient Egypt

Egypt is an interesting country to learn about. Sure, you probably already a little bit about ancient Egypt. You have probably already heard that they have snakes, there are pyramids, and it is located on the Nile River but my question is what else do you know? Do you know anything about their government, religion, and about the pharaoh’s role? Well, if you don’t you are about to find out.

Ancient Egypt has been divided into three main time periods: the old kingdom, middle kingdom, and the new kingdom. The establishment of the old kingdom had taken place around 3200 BC ("Leave a Comment Ancient Egypt Timeline…”) and had the most direct power during this time frame (“The Government of Ancient Egypt”). Believe it or not, the government had

enough power to appoint many officials to take care of the Egyptian people. Did you know that Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his own brothers, was appointed by a pharaoh in Genesis 41:39-41, which says: “: 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Joseph was appointed to take care of the Egyptians by supplying them with grain when the famine had begun, which was revealed to Joseph by God when the pharaoh told Joseph about his dream (“ Bible Gateway Passage: Genesis 41”).
The pharaoh’s power had weakened tremendously by the time of the fifth dynasty of the pharaohs came around. A new system had been created during this time , which was where the pharaoh’s position was passed down from his generation to the next. Governors were being developed too, and their job was to help the pharaoh rule in areas called “nomes”. What are nomes? They are basically present day districts (“The Government of Ancient Egypt”).
The old kingdom came to an end around 2180 BC and the middle kingdom came into place around 2040 BC (“Leave a Comment Ancient Egypt Timeline…”) and was founded on the foundations of the old kingdom. More officials were selected by the pharaoh during this time, but the officials had firm duties that they could or could not do. Some officials were chosen to look after “nomes” and keep an eye on what the people were doing. The nomes’ control had increased over time and the pharaoh was trying to regain the power he had, by restricting the power of the nomes’. The pharaoh’s plan was not operating very well because towns were being created and town mayors were increasing in their power (“The Government of Ancient Egypt”).
1674 BC ended the middle kingdom and brought on the new kingdom around 1570 BC (“Leave a Comment Ancient Egypt Timeline”). Its foundations came mainly from the previous kingdoms. However, more nomes were made by sundering them and making them smaller than they used to be. The pharaoh forced many of the Egyptians to create and join armies during this epoch. Judges were appointed to make the decisions on what was right and what was wrong due to the government’s unsuccessfulness. How did they decide on what was right and what was wrong? They, as in the judges kept an eye out for some symbols from their gods or looked for prophecies that were given to them by the priests, who had immense power (“The Government of Ancient Egypt”).
Can you name one thing that was very significant to the ancient Egyptians? There are many correct answers, but the main significant thing to them was their religion. The Egyptian gods are not something new; they have been around for a very long time ("Facts about Egyptian Gods."). In fact, they originated from the original forty-two nomes, but there are other places that they have came from too (Hart 24).
As you probably have already noticed, the Egyptians were polytheistic. Their religion was also very vital to them because it was part of their daily lives. Every day they were persistently trying to follow certain rules that they thought would please their gods. Their thoughts were if you abided by the rules that the gods have commanded then you would be given a chance to live again after you died. They also had another idea that you were immediately sent to the underworld to be judged after you died and there was only one way to escape the judgment; you had to have various items and supplies. Some of those items had to be personal items, food and drinks, and important hieroglyphic documents (Jovinelly7-8).
Did you know that many Egyptians had a difficulty telling which god was which because they had the ability to transform into different things?

One example was the sun god who was recognized the most in the Egyptian religion. At dawn he could be a Khepri, a god that was in a form of a beetle that rolled the sun disk toward the eastern horizon (Hart 24).

Pharaohs had the authoritative role in ancient Egypt and were worshiped just like the gods. Having the most power in ancient Egypt, the pharaoh owned all the land and the people. While the pharaoh was still living he had the responsibility to keep the land in the condition where people can live there and would not starve, but if he died the role could have been passed on to his eldest son (Jovinelly28).

Re, the Egyptian sun god, had a purpose for the pharaohs and that was to rule over the land. The Egyptian reign was based on the power of godly rights. One Pharaoh said: “I will settle firm decrees for Harakhty. He begat me to do what should be done for him, to accomplish what he commands to do, He appointed me shepherd of this land, knowing him who would herd it for him. He gave to me what he protects, what the eye in him illuminates. He who does all as he desires conveys to me what he wants known, I am king by nature, ruler to whom one does not give. I conquered as a fledgling, I lorded in the egg, I ruled as a youth…. [Mine is the land], its length and breadth, I was nursed to be a conqueror. Mine is the land, I am its lord, my power reaches heaven’s height. I excel by acting for my maker, pleasing the god with what he gave. [I am] his son and his protector, he gave me to conquer what he conquered” (“The Pharaoh- Man, Ruler, and

God.”)
There are so many things to learn about Egypt. Egypt is well known for different things such as pyramids, snakes, and that it is located on the Nile River. What else do you know? Do you know about their government, religion, or about the pharaoh’s role? What have you learned from my research paper, anything at all?