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Focuses on the leaders of Ancient Egypt and their roles as both kings and religious figures.
Imagine you are the most powerful person in the world, and your people believe you are a living god who can make the sun rise and the Nile River flood!
In Ancient Egypt, the leader was called a pharaoh. The word pharaoh actually means "Great House," which was the name of the beautiful palace where the leader lived. But a pharaoh was much more than just a king. The Egyptian people believed the pharaoh was a living god on Earth! Because they were seen as gods, the pharaohs had total power over the land and everyone living in it.
Quick Check
What does the word 'pharaoh' mean, and who was this person?
Answer
It means 'Great House' and refers to the leader of Ancient Egypt.
You could always tell who the pharaoh was by what they wore and carried. They wore a special crown to show they ruled the land. In their hands, they often held two items: the crook and the flail. The crook looks like a long stick with a hook at the top, like a shepherd's staff. It showed that the pharaoh cared for the people like a shepherd cares for sheep. The flail looks like a small whip and showed the pharaoh was strong and could keep order.
If you saw a statue in Egypt, you could identify the pharaoh by following these steps: 1. Look at the head: Is there a tall crown or a striped headcloth? 2. Look at the right hand: Is there a rod with three dangling beads (the flail)? 3. Look at the left hand: Is there a curved staff (the crook)? If you see these, you are looking at a pharaoh!
Quick Check
Which symbol showed that the pharaoh was like a shepherd caring for his people?
Answer
The crook.
Being a pharaoh was a lot of work! They had two main responsibilities. First, they were the political leader. This means they made the laws, collected taxes, and led the army to protect Egypt. Second, they were the religious leader. They were the only ones allowed to perform special ceremonies at the temples. They prayed to the gods to make sure the Nile River flooded every year so that farmers could grow food for everyone.
Imagine a pharaoh's busy morning: 1. First, he meets with his generals to discuss how to keep the borders safe. 2. Next, he writes a new law to make sure everyone has enough grain to eat. 3. Finally, he goes to a grand temple to offer gifts to the sun god, Ra, so the crops will grow.
The pharaoh's most important religious job was connected to the Nile River. Since it almost never rained in Egypt, the people relied on the river to overflow its banks to water the fields. If the river didn't flood, the people would go hungry. The pharaoh was responsible for keeping the gods happy so the water would rise exactly when it was needed.
Think about how a pharaoh handles a dry year: 1. The people are worried because the river is low. 2. The pharaoh must lead a huge parade to the riverbank. 3. He performs a secret ceremony to ask the gods for water. 4. If the river rises, the people believe the pharaoh's power as a god is real!
What was the title given to the leaders of Ancient Egypt?
Which of these symbols showed the pharaoh was a strong leader who kept order?
The pharaoh was considered both a king and a god.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to recall the names of the two tools the pharaoh held in their hands and what they looked like.
Practice Activity
Draw a picture of yourself as a pharaoh! Make sure to include a crown and the crook and flail to show your power.