Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Pharaohs in Ancient Egypt

The title 'pharaoh' was not initially used for emperors. It emerged after the reign of Merneptah around 1200 BCE. Before that, emperors had three titles assigned to them. Pharaohs were considered almost divine, so the title 'Horus,' the name of an Egyptian god, was used. The second title is 'Sedge and Bee.' Sedge means Upper Egypt and Bee means Lower Egypt, so the meaning of Sedge and Bee is the ruler of both Upper and Lower Egypt.

The third title, 'Two Ladies,' refers to the two goddesses Wadjet and Nekhbet. They are believed to be protectors or patrons of ancient Egypt, and people worshiped them for safeguarding the unified country for many years. The role of a ruler is akin to the role of a patron because he must protect the kingdom and its people, which is why these 'pharaoh' titles were used.

Pharaohs adorned an array of crowns for different roles and occasions. Each crown conveyed its symbolic significance in form and color. Not a single illustration or statue of a pharaoh exists without a crown. Although numerous crowns have been identified, five main crowns are commonly depicted in statues and paintings.

Atef: A type of Hedjet (white crown) made of discs and feathers, worn by the god of the afterlife, Osiris. Deshret: A red crown adorned with the image of an Egyptian cobra on the front, believed to be worn by pharaohs of Lower Egypt. Hedjet: A white crown featuring the image of a vulture, worn by pharaohs of Upper Egypt. Khepresh: A blue crown worn by pharaohs in military campaigns or ceremonies. Pschent: The combination of the Deshret and Hedjet crowns, representing the authority of the pharaoh over the unified land of Egypt.

Egypt is home to various architectural wonders, such as tombs or structures dedicated to someone's life, like the Valley of the Kings or the Great Pyramid of Giza built by Khufu. Every ancient architectural marvel reminds us of the greatness of the current rulers, but the exceptional quality seen in all of them is due to the ancient Egyptians' absolute belief in an afterlife.

Most tombs were constructed by their pharaoh owners, who ordered them in a way to facilitate a successful afterlife leading to their rebirth. The tombs are surrounded by large display rooms filled with precious artifacts and protected by sturdy mudbrick and limestone blocks. These are the grand pyramids.

Becoming a pharaoh is not just a matter of bloodline passed through generations. It's not being the child of a king to become a great pharaoh. The training starts at a young age. The lessons focus on both physical and mental strength, and skills like archery, hunting, and combat are included in the curriculum.

Only when the current pharaoh believes the heir is worthy of the throne, they are appointed as the co-ruler and ascend to power after the pharaoh's passing. The rationale behind this stringent regime is to create a powerful pharaoh, as a king must uphold the reputation of a deity and be revered by the people.

Originally, the kingdom of Egypt was divided into two parts. The northern part was called Lower Egypt, and the southern part was called Upper Egypt. This distinction was represented by two different crowns, Deshret and Hedjet, worn by the pharaohs of Lower and Upper Egypt. The kingdom was later unified by the Egyptian king Menes during the Early Dynastic Period.

King Menes was the first pharaoh of the unified Egypt. He is also identified as 'Narmer' in archaeological records and is considered the founding figure of ancient Egypt. The circumstances of his death remain a debated issue, but a popular hypothesis suggests he was trampled by a hippopotamus.

You won't find any painting of a pharaoh without makeup. Both male and female pharaohs used cosmetics and various beauty products to appear attractive. Both male and female pharaohs wore makeup, especially applying black kohl around the eyes. It served several purposes: aesthetics, practicality (as a means to reduce light reflection), and spirituality, as the eye makeup resembling the eye of Horus was believed to enhance divine resemblance.

Beauty held great importance in ancient Egypt as it was considered sacred. The pharaohs often lined their eyes with green paint to make them look darker and used the eye of Horus to imitate the god Horus, who had black eyes and the eye of Horus symbol. Using kohl also helped protect the eyes from sunlight and reduce the risk of eye diseases. The pharaohs believed that lining their eyes with kohl would ward off negative spirits and protect them. Beauty was seen as a reflection of holiness, ultimately bringing them closer to the gods.

Sculptures and paintings of pharaohs depict each of them with a specific style of beard, but in reality, this might not be the case. Pharaohs were often portrayed with long, intricately braided beards, but in reality, they likely kept themselves clean-shaven. Hygiene and grooming were top priorities for ancient Egyptians and pharaohs alike. The beards were artificial, worn to emulate the god Osiris, who was depicted with a beautiful beard.

Indeed, facial hair was a must-have to the extent that even Hatshepsut, the first female pharaoh, also wore a fake beard. They often shaved and used braided false beards to appear neat. Pharaohs typically wore false beards to mimic the god of the afterlife and rebirth, Osiris. Pharaohs were believed to embody the gods, and to maintain this reputation, they wore false beards. Even the female pharaohs had their share of artificial beards.

In ancient Egypt, the pharaohs were considered close to divinity, and to protect them from malevolent spirits, they had guardians known as 'Mau' or cats. Whether true or not, cats were regarded as sacred by pharaohs and ancient Egyptians, playing a significant role in religious and societal activities.

Cats were believed to kill venomous snakes and were thought to ward off evil spirits; they were revered and considered possessors of divine energy. Various deities were depicted in historical texts with the head of a cat. The prominence of cats among pharaohs can be seen in the large number of mummified cats found in a cemetery in central Egypt.

Famous in many books and documentary films, there is a legend associated with the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun. The legend states that disturbing the mummy of a pharaoh would bring a curse, resulting in illness, misfortune, or even death. The legend became a reality when the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun was excavated from the Valley of the Kings in Luxor.

Although there is no textual evidence of the pharaoh's curse, some suspicious events occurred after the tomb's excavation. Individuals who visited or were closely involved with the excavation died in questionable circumstances, and many of them suffered from various deadly diseases. While all these incidents could be mere coincidences, the fact that they occurred in close proximity to the tomb adds credibility to the chilling prophecy.

The death of the first pharaoh was an incredibly bizarre event. Menes, the pharaoh who unified Upper and Lower Egypt, is believed to have valiantly sacrificed himself, but the reality is far different. Menes had a great reign lasting for 62 years, but unfortunately, it was brought to an end by a hippopotamus, allegedly crushing him to death. There is no official documentation on how this occurred, but it remains the only information available to explain his demise.

The contributions of pharaohs to Egypt's history are remarkable. The architectural marvels and artifacts they left behind reflect their dedication to the field of cultural arts. Pharaohs have left countless refined structures, and their cultural heritage still amazes the world today. The mysterious and haunting beauty of Egypt is a gift that the pharaohs left for future generations. Although the legacy of these supreme leaders is beginning to fade, it is crucial to preserve it for the coming generations. The ancient Egyptian civilization may have existed for thousands of years, but over time, it has crumbled. To protect the legacy of the mighty pharaohs today requires robust steps.