The name "Pharaoh" became the definition of the bearer of the supreme state power only during the New Kingdom. Before this era, the ancient Egyptian transcription "per-oa" (distorted ancient Greek ("φαραώ") literally meant "Great House". However, long before the new times of Ahmes I, Thutmose and Amenhotep III, the Egyptian rulers had a comprehensive power that allowed them to wage wars of conquest , to keep in obedience to the army of slaves, to build cyclopean monuments and grandiose tombs.This made quite a strong impression on others.Many residents of the Nile Delta and ambassadors of other states believed that pharaoh in ancient Egypt one of the incarnations of the ancient Egyptian gods materialized into flesh.
The meaning of the pharaoh in ancient Egypt
The ancient Egyptian pharaohs, if not considered the earthly incarnation of God, were considered as intermediaries between the divine spirit and earthly matter. There was no doubt about the infallibility of the pharaoh, for any condemnation of the will of the Egyptian rulers, the disobedient was waiting for two punishments - slavery or death. At the same time, the attributes of the pharaoh's merits were very diverse and extensive. Any attribute of the clothes of the Egyptian king, in addition to a purely unitary function, also had a semantic one.
The role is not purely managerial or military, but to a certain extent sacred. It was thanks to its proximity to religious cults that the Nile flood was ensured - a guarantor of soil fertility in high yields. Priests, brought to the masses of the common people the will Egyptian ruler, using magical rites. Moreover, the importance of the pharaoh in Ancient Egypt was emphasized by every little thing, by any household action. Neither a commoner nor a high dignitary could sit down at the table without mentioning the name of the pharaoh, of which he had several. At the same time, it was forbidden to pronounce the true name of the ruler (Ramses, Akhenaten,). The most common, commonplace was the definition - "life-health - strength."
Only a few Egyptians managed to see the earthly incarnation of the Almighty with their own eyes. Even close nobles approached the pharaoh, crawling on their knees and bowing their heads. The deceased pharaoh was to be reunited with his divine community and his heavenly life, as well as earthly life, should be spent in luxury. The pharaoh in the afterlife must have everything necessary that surrounded him in the earthly vale. This explains the richness and diversity of burial utensils.
The first pharaohs of ancient Egypt
Although the first ruler ancient egypt officially recognized as Ni-Neith, (Hor-ni-Neith), whose years of reign have not yet been determined, in fact, this is the first ruler of Egypt of the dynastic period. The history of the Egyptian state is much older, and before Ni-Nate, mythical lords (Ptah, Ra, Osiris) and pharaohs of the predynastic period (“Elephant”, Pen-abu (“Bull”) and “Scorpio” I) ruled. Who they are and whether they are real persons modern Egyptology cannot answer. The real first pharaohs of Ancient Egypt - (Hat-Khor (Khor-khat), Ka, (Khor-ka, Khor-sehen), Narmer (Nar)) are little known and there is practically no material evidence of them.
We can talk about the greatness of the pharaohs starting from the era of the reign of Djoser, the first pharaoh of the III dynasty of the Old Kingdom and the builder of the first step pyramid.
Names of the pharaohs of ancient Egypt
Like all the rites of Ancient Egypt, the clothes of the supreme rulers and the names of the Egyptian pharaohs had a touch of sacredness. The names used in modern literature are rather nicknames (if not “nicknames”) of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. A personal name, written in one hieroglyph, the future ruler received at birth. When he was appointed heir to the throne of the Upper and Lower Kingdoms, a clarification was necessarily made in front of his personal name - “son of Ra”. If a woman came to the throne, then the definition “daughter of Ra” served as a prefix. The first "pharaoh" to be honored with such a title was Queen Merneit ("To be loved"). According to the information that has come down to us, she was the wife of either the pharaoh Jet (Uenefes) or Djer (Khor Khvat).
When a pharaoh came to the throne, he was given a throne name. It was these names that were displayed in the cartouches, thanks to which Jean-Francois Champollion was able to decipher the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
In addition to these two names, the pharaoh could be called the Golden name, the name after Nebti and the Horus name (the name of Horus).
The legacy of the most advanced ancient civilization that originated in the Nile Valley is priceless for posterity. World-famous historical monuments keep many secrets, and scientists from all over the world are trying unsuccessfully to solve the mysteries of the construction of giant pyramids. Ancient Egypt is in no hurry to share secrets, but we can tell about the exact facts of the reign of kings.
Some facts about pharaohs
For several millennia, the state was ruled by pharaohs - the deputies of God on earth, who, according to legend, have magic power. They regulated all spheres of life of the Egyptians, and the high priests considered themselves their servants, although some kings became puppets in their hands.
The inhabitants believed that the sunrise and the ripening of the crop depended on the ruler. And if there were terrible epidemics among animals and people, wars began, then this meant the dissatisfaction of the gods with their governor.
The kings of Egypt did not have the right to mix their blood with human, so they first married their sisters, and only then married ordinary women. But the throne was inherited only by a child born from a relative.
Women with divine blood wielded great power and even ruled Egypt until their sons reached maturity.
Who was the founder of the first dynasty of pharaohs?
Scientists do not know exactly when the Egyptian state was born, but after research it was found that about three thousand years ago it already existed.
The founder of the first dynasty is King Ming. He built a fortress, which later became the capital and royal residence. From Memphis, the pharaoh ruled over a united Egypt, and his identity is much debated among scholars. Many experts believe that Ming is the designation of the first three pharaohs of the predynastic period, and all disputes are related to the lack of written sources.
Early kingdom
The next era, about which not much is known, is the Early Egypt of the first and second dynasties (Khor Akha, Khasekhem), who severely suppressed all the uprisings, united the country in
During this period, the production of papyrus begins, and the widespread use of writing has an impact on the culture of other eras. Egypt becomes a country with a highly developed agriculture.
ancient kingdom
The pharaohs have enormous power, and the state turns into a centralized despotism.
At the behest of King Djoser, the construction of tombs in Giza begins.
Under the rule of the fifth dynasty, the power of the pharaohs begins to weaken, and Egypt is divided into administrative units - nomes.
middle kingdom
The reign of the twelfth dynasty falls on At this time, wars are being waged with neighboring tribes, defensive fortresses are being built.
The kings (pharaohs) of Ancient Egypt - Amenemhet I, Senusret III - were incredibly revered by the population. During this period, tools were improved and bronze tools appeared. A powerful impetus is given to the development of agriculture due to the creation of an irrigation system.
new kingdom
In the New Kingdom, under which the XVIII-XX dynasties ruled (Thutmose I, Hapshetsut, Amenhotep IV, Necho II), Egypt turns into a powerful power. Stormy economic development was due to the influx of captured workers, looted gold and cattle into the country.
During this period, iron tools were widely used, horse breeding and glass production developed. The art of mummification of the bodies of the dead reaches perfection.
At the beginning of the XI century, two kingdoms were formed: Lower Egypt, which breaks up into separate regions, and Upper, with its capital in Thebes. Nubian rulers are waging bloody wars, dreaming of taking over the country.
The state was liberated from the invaders by the founder of the Sais dynasty, Psammetikh I.
Liberation from the Persians and the end of the reign of the Egyptian kings
Persian rule stands out in a separate period. The foreign king Cambyses is proclaimed pharaoh of the XXVII dynasty.
And in 332 BC, Egypt was conquered by A. Macedonian, who liberated the country from the Persians. The era of Hellenism is coming, and the reign of the pharaohs is forever gone.
Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt: table
The exact dating of the reign of the kings is still a matter of debate among scholars. Let us take as a basis a selective table based on the chronology of Professor of Archeology P. Nicholson and Doctor of Science J. Shaw and including the most significant rulers.
Years, BC | Period name | Names of pharaohs |
Early kingdom | Menes (Narmer) |
|
ancient kingdom | Djoser, Sekhemkhet, Snefru, Cheops (Khufu), Chephren (Khafra), Nyusera, Unas |
|
Transitional period - the decline of the power of the pharaohs | ||
middle kingdom | Mentuhotep II, Senusret I, Amenemhat I, Amenemhat II, Amenemhat III, Amenemhat IV |
|
Second transitional period | ||
new kingdom | Ahmose I, Thutmose I, Hatshepsut, Tutankhamun, Ramses I, Ramses III, Ramses IV - IX |
cult of the dead
Speaking of the Egyptian kings, one cannot fail to mention special treatment to death among the Egyptians, which led to the emergence of the cult of the dead. The inhabitants believed in the immortality of the soul going to the afterlife. It was considered that at proper storage she can return the body, so the funeral cult was based on the embalming and mummification of the deceased person.
The high priests, who learned to keep the bodies of the pharaohs incorruptible, had special skills in this area.
It was believed that the kings of Egypt ruled in the afterlife even after their death, so ritual rites were very important. During their lifetime, the pharaohs thought about eternal dwelling, and pyramids were erected on the Giza plateau, which became the burial place of the gods' governors.
sacred place
The famous Valley of the Kings in Egypt, located opposite the city of Thebes (Luxor), is a unique place where the pharaohs are buried. Until now, it attracts researchers involved in the history of ancient civilization. Thirty-seven years ago she was recognized world heritage UNESCO.
The sacred valley was carefully guarded to prevent the looting of graves, however, with the weakening of the power of the pharaohs, robbers and travelers appeared who caused irreparable harm to the sarcophagi.
Napoleon's expedition, which arrived with the aim of conquering Egypt, was the first group to map the tombs. After the publication of works on the Thebes burials, scientific journeys of famous archaeologists began, who made many important discoveries.
The mess with the tombs
Thutmose I was the first to be buried in the Valley of the Kings, and the main problem is that no one knows exactly in which tomb he was buried. Such confusion exists with other tombs, although Egyptologists are sure that all Egyptian kings had personal burial chambers built especially for them.
In 1827, the famous scientist D. G. Wilkinson introduced the obligatory numbering of tombs, beginning with the KV prefix, into scientific circulation. Service mines were assigned only Latin letters. For example, the famous tomb of Tutankhamun was assigned the number KV 62.
Researchers are aware of 64 tombs, and the latter is still little studied.
Fear of grave robbery
Until the 15th century BC, pharaohs were buried according to special rites in pyramids built during their lifetime. The rulers controlled the work and took care not only of the place of burial, but also of household items that would be with them in the dead world, because even in the kingdom of Osiris, the deputies of God should lead a familiar lifestyle. That's what ancient history says.
The kings of Egypt rested in sarcophagi studded with jewels. Pyramid tombs on the Giza plateau were looted and mummies desecrated or reburied by religious fanatics. Fearing outrage, Thutmose I made changes to established traditions. He ordered to be buried in a secluded and secret place, which was a deep well in the valley.
Rogue Disguise
All subsequent tombs were cut down in the rocks, the entrances were masked with stones, and various traps for robbers were arranged along the way. Such a well rested against the burial chamber, where the pharaoh, the king of Egypt, rested.
Scientists have established that the City of the Dead in Thebes did not escape the sad fate, and the tombs in the valley began to be plundered during the reign of the XX-XXI dynasty of the pharaohs. The high officials of Egypt sold gold ornaments from the tombs, which were given to them by the builders of the tombs, who did not receive money for their work.
Today, the Valley of the Kings is a unique place, testifying to the findings in an important archaeological site, shedding light on the events of an advanced civilization that took place, which is very important for posterity.
In the 4th millennium BC, there were 42 small “states” on the territory of Egypt, the Greeks called them nomes. As a result of the wars between them, by the middle of the 4th millennium BC. e. two large kingdoms arose - Southern (Upper Egypt) and Northern (Lower Egypt). The southern consisted of 22 nomes, the northern - of 20. After some time, the king of Upper Egypt conquered Lower Egypt and united the country. Usually they write that they did it Mena near. 3000 BC e. But, apparently, this event happened much earlier. In any case, already several predecessors of Mena called themselves the rulers of all of Egypt (the so-called zero dynasty). Dates, especially for the third millennium BC, are very approximate even for estimating the time of the reign of various dynasties, not to mention the dating of the reigns of individual pharaohs. It is also unknown how and under what circumstances the change of dynasties took place.
Pre-dynastic kings, before 3000 BC e.
These pharaohs were probably the immediate predecessors of the pharaohs of the first dynasty. Perhaps, under them, Egypt was already a single kingdom, and the unification of the country took place even earlier. Unfortunately, the names of the predecessors of these pharaohs have not been preserved. Their capital was the city Thinis. ? ? (Scorpio) Ka (Double) Narmer (Som)
First Dynasty (from Thinis), beginning - c. 3000 BC n. e.
Pharaoh Mena built a new capital - the city of Memphis. Under him, ancient chronicles began to be kept. Apparently, therefore, the ancient Egyptians considered him the founder of the first dynasty. It's just that in the annals the name of Pharaoh Mena was the first one that descendants discovered there. Mena (=Gor-Aga=Menes) Djer Waji Den (=Udimu=Densemit=Usefais) Adjib (=Miebis) Semerkhet Kaa (=Kebhu)
The Second Dynasty (from Thinis), ended c. 2780 BC e.
The exact number and sequence of the reign of the pharaohs of this dynasty has not been established. Bedjau Hetepsekhemui Raneb Ninecher Uneg (Veneg) Send (Sened) Peribsen Hasekhem Hasekhemui
Third Dynasty (from Heliopolis), c. 2780 - c. 2720 BC e.
Djoser considered the founder of the third dynasty, although there is no reliable information about this. If he had predecessors, then their names were not preserved in history, and Djoser became famous for the fact that the first pyramid was built under him. The exact number and sequence of the reign of the pharaohs of this dynasty has not been established. Djoser Semerkhet (Sekhemkhet) Khaba Neferkar Nebk Hu (=Huni)
Fourth Dynasty (from Elephantine), c. 2720 - c. 2560 BC e.
Snefru Khufu (Cheops) Djedefra (Radjedef) Khafre (Khefren) Interregnum, struggle for power between the two brothers of Khafre - Khorjed and Rabauf, later outlawed. Menkaura (Mykerin) Shepseskar (Shepseskaf)
Fifth Dynasty (from Elephantine), c. 2560 - c. 2420 BC e.
This maternal dynasty was a continuation of the fourth dynasty. Userkaf Sahura Neferirkara Kapay Shepseskara Neferefre (Neferkara) Nyuserra Menkauhor Djedkara Isesi Unis
Sixth Dynasty, c. 2420 - c. 2260 BC e.
Tepi (= Teti) Userkara Merira Piopi (Pepi) I Merenra I Neferkara Piopi (Pepi) II (d. c. 2270 BC) Piopi II came to the throne as a teenager and ruled for about 100 years, which is a kind of record in world history. Merenra II Nitokerti (Nitokris), Queen Menkar
Seventh dynasty
Time of decline and disintegration of the ancient kingdom. The ancient Egyptian historian Manetho said about this dynasty: "seventy kings in seventy days." If this dynasty really ruled, then for a very short time and obviously not throughout Egypt.
Eighth Dynasty, c. 2260-2220 BC e.
The pharaohs of this dynasty did not have power over the whole country. According to Manetho - "27 kings who ruled for 146 years." It seems the eighth dynasty was related to the sixth. But the list of pharaohs of this dynasty, due to the lack of sources, cannot yet be restored.
Ninth Dynasty (from Heracleupol), c. 2220 - c. 2130s BC e.
This dynasty ruled in the north of Egypt, but also in the south at this time a state was formed with its capital in Thebes.
Dominions of the dynasty conquered by the pharaoh of the eleventh Theban dynasty Mentuhotep I/II.
Eleventh Dynasty (from Thebes), c. 2160-2000 BC e.
The pharaohs of this dynasty united all of Egypt under their rule.
Mentuhotep(nomarch of Thebes, did not take the royal title)
| Intef I (=Antef) | OK. 2160-2120/19 |
| Intef II | OK. 2120/18-2070 |
| Intef III | OK. 2070-2065 |
| Mentuhotep I/II | OK. 2065—2015 |
| Mentuhotep II/III | ? |
| Mentuhotep III/IV | ? |
| Mentuhotep IV/V | OK. 2015—2007 |
| Mentuhotep V/VI | OK. 2007-2000 |
Twelfth Dynasty (from Thebes), OK. 2000-1785 BC e.
Dynasty Founder Amenemhat I made a coup d'état, took the throne and founded a new dynasty, which was a side of the eleventh dynasty.
| Amenemhat I | c.2000-1980 |
| Senusret I | OK. 1980-1935 |
| Amenemhat II | OK. 1935-1896 |
| Senusret II | OK. 1896-1887 |
| Senusret III | OK. 1887-1849 |
| Amenemhat III | OK. 1849-1801 |
| Amenemhat IV | OK. 1801-1792 |
| Nefrusebek (= Sebekneferura), queen. | OK. 1792-1785 |
T thirteenth and fourteenth dynasties, c. 1785-1680 BC e.
There are lists that list a large number of the names of the pharaohs who ruled after the twelfth dynasty - about one hundred and fifty names in total. Unfortunately, due to the large damage to the lists, not all names can be read. Traditionally, these pharaohs are attributed to the thirteenth (from Thebes) and fourteenth (from Xois) dynasties. It is difficult to draw a line between them. It is also unknown whether these dynasties succeeded one another or coexisted simultaneously.
The pharaohs of these dynasties rarely ruled for more than a few years. And often they were removed from the throne after a few months, or even days. Only a few well-known names are listed here.
| Sebekhotep I | ? |
| Amenemhat V | 1774—1772 |
| Amenemhat VI | ? |
| Sankhiber | ? |
| Hetepibre | ? |
| Sebekhotep II | ? |
| Ranseneb | ? |
| Gore | ? |
| Amenemhat VII | ? |
| Hutover | ? |
| Senusret IV | ? |
| Hanger | ? |
| Semenhara | ? |
| Sebekemsaf I | ? |
| Sebekhotep III | 1754-1751 |
| Neferhotep I | 1751—1740 |
| Sebekhotep IV | 1740—1730 |
| Sebekhotep V | 1730—1725 |
| Wahibrieb | 1725—1714 |
| Merneferi | 1714—1700 |
| Sebekhotep VI | 1700—1698 |
| Neferhotep II | 1698-? |
| Horus II | ? |
| Sebekhotep VII | ?-1693 |
| Mentuhotep V | ? |
| mentumsaf | ? |
| Didymos I | ? |
| Didymos II | ? |
| Senebmi | ? |
| Neferhotep III | ? |
| Sebekhotep VIII | ? |
| Mershepsef-Ini | ? |
| Mentuwoser | ? |
| Senaaib | ? |
| Wenwawetemsaf | ? |
Around 1680 BC e. nomadic tribes invaded Egypt through the Sinai Peninsula from Asia, who in history remained known under the name of the Hyksos. They captured Lower Egypt and ruled there for 108 years.
Pharaoh (Pharaoh) is the idol of youth, a new phenomenon in modern Russian rap culture. He is a representative of the so-called "cloud rap", which is characterized by slow beats, smooth reading and philosophical, often depressing lyrics (although disputes about Pharaoh's belonging to cloud-rap do not stop to this day).At the age of 19, Pharaoh, whose real name is Gleb Golubin, became the leader and ideological inspirer of the Dead Dynasty formation, the leitmotif of which was a defiant mixture of nihilism and rudeness. The main theme of his tracks is drugs, girls and sex.
Childhood and family of Gleb Golubin (rapper Pharaoh)
Gleb Gennadyevich Golubin was born and raised in Moscow, in the Izmailovo district, in the family of a sports functionary. His father Gennady Golubin was CEO football club "Dynamo", later became the head of a company specializing in sports marketing.Rapper Pharaoh as a child
Naturally, the parents predicted to their son sports career. From the age of six, the boy was professionally involved in football. At a young age, Gleb managed to play for Lokomotiv, CSKA and Dynamo. Until the age of thirteen, his life consisted mainly of daily training and schooling. But in adolescence it came to the realization that the second Pele would not work out of him, and his father was not enthusiastic about his son's sporting achievements.
Football has been replaced by music. At the age of 8, Gleb became interested in the work of the German group Rammstein, for which he even enrolled in courses German language. Another teen idol was the American rapper Snoop Dogg. The musical sympathies of the future musician did not find support among classmates (then other performers were in vogue), but this did not bother Gleb.
At the age of 16, the young man left for America for six months. There he finally decided on his musical tastes and opened up new horizons for creativity.
Rapper career Pharaoh
In 2013, Gleb returned to Moscow and entered the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University. At the same time, he recorded his first track Cadillac and began to perform as part of the Grindhouse group under the pseudonym Pharaoh.But the video clip for the track "BLACK SIEMENS" brought real fame to the novice musician. In it, Gleb raps against the backdrop of a white Lincoln, which Dmitry Dyuzhev drove in the cult TV series Brigada. The song constantly repeats the sounds of "skr-skr", which later became his signature "trick".
Rapper Pharaoh - skrrt
Tired of the constant questions from fans about what this mysterious "skr-skr" means, Pharaoh eventually explained that this was the sound that Bruce Lee made during training. Another version said that "skrt" is an imitation of the sound of car tires.
Pharaoh's next video "Champagne Squirt" has nearly 10 million views on YouTube. After the premiere of the video, the phrase "Champagne squirt in the face" spread across social networks, and the Pharaoh became a truly iconic character among the youth audience.
Since 2014, Pharaoh has been collaborating with rappers Fortnox Pockets, Toyota RAW4, Acid Drop King, Jeembo and Southgarden as part of the Dead Dynasty project.
Pharaoh - 5 Minutes Ago
Because of mysterious image which the Pharaoh cultivates in in social networks, fantastic rumors constantly spread about his life. In 2015, information appeared that the rapper died of a drug overdose. After that, Pharaoh released a new album Phosphor ("Phosphorus"), the video for the song from which "Let's stay at home" again scored great amount views on the web.
In February 2017, he traditionally posted on the Web a new track "Unplugged (Interlude)", which was out of the rapper's general work - it was recorded with a guitar. Fans of the Pharaoh suggested that this is a composition from the upcoming acoustic album, which Pharaoh has mentioned more than once before.
Pharaoh's personal life
Pharaoh does not lack girlfriends. One of his ex girls- the current soloist of the group "Silver" Katya Kishchuk.At the beginning of 2017, Gleb began dating the scandalous model, the daughter of the famous tennis player Evgeny Kafelnikov Alesya.
In ancient times, a civilization arose on the territory of modern Egypt in the Nile Valley, leaving behind many secrets and mysteries. It still attracts the attention of researchers and ordinary people with its color, its unusualness and rich heritage.
Thirty Dynasties of Egypt
It is not known exactly when the hunting tribes entered the Nile Valley and found there a lot of food and a wide river as a reliable source of water. Years passed. The rural communities organized here grew in size and became richer. Then they divided into two kingdoms - Lower (in the south) and Upper (in the north). And in 3200 BC. e. the ruler Menes was able to conquer Lower Egypt and organized the first dynasty of pharaohs, which controlled both the delta and the valley of the great Nile.
Map of unified Ancient Egypt
During the dynastic period, Ancient Egypt often became the dominant state in the region. This state had a complex social structure, advanced technologies for those times, a powerful army and developed internal trade. In addition, the Egyptians managed to achieve fantastic success in the field of construction - they were able to build efficient irrigation systems on the banks of the Nile, huge temples and pyramids that boggle the imagination even modern man. In addition, the Egyptians invented the hieroglyphic writing system, organized an efficient judicial system, and did many other important and amazing things.
In total, starting from 3200 BC. e., until the conquest of the Egyptians by the Persians in 342 BC. e. There were thirty dynasties of rulers of Egypt. These are truly Egyptian dynasties - that is, their representatives were themselves Egyptians, and not conquerors from distant lands. The last pharaoh of the thirtieth dynasty was Nectaneb II. When the Persians invaded his state, he collected his treasures and fled south.
However, the history of Ancient Egypt, as many believe, does not end there. Then Alexander the Great was able to recapture Egypt from the Persians, and subsequently Ptolemy, Alexander's commander, began to rule this region. Ptolemy I proclaimed himself king of Egypt in 305 BC. e. He used local traditions, preserved from the ancient pharaohs, to gain a foothold on the throne. This (and also the fact that he died a natural death, and not as a result of a conspiracy) shows that Ptolemy was a fairly intelligent ruler. As a result, he managed to create his own special dynasty, which ruled here for more than 250 years. By the way, the last representative of the Ptolemaic dynasty and the last queen of Egypt was the legendary Cleopatra VII Philopator.
Some legendary pharaohs
The pharaohs stood at the top of the social ladder and were considered equal to the gods. Great honors were given to the pharaohs, they were considered so powerful that they were literally afraid to touch them.
On the neck, the pharaohs traditionally wore an ankh - a magical symbol and talisman, to which the Egyptians attached great importance. There have been many pharaohs over the centuries and millennia of Egypt's existence, but a few of them deserve special mention.
Almost the most famous Egyptian pharaoh - Ramses II. He ascended the throne when he was about twenty years old, and ruled the country for almost seven decades (from 1279 to 1213 BC). During this time, several generations have changed. And many of the Egyptians who lived at the end of the reign of Ramses II believed that he was a real immortal deity.
Another pharaoh worthy of mention - Djoser. He ruled in the 27th or 28th century BC. e. It is known that during his reign the city of Memphis finally became the capital of the state. However, Djoser went down in history primarily by the fact that he built the very first pyramid in Ancient Egypt (it is also the first stone architectural structure in the world). More precisely, it was built by the vizier of Djoser - a man with outstanding abilities named Imhotep. Unlike the later pyramid of Cheops, the pyramid of Djoser consists of steps. Initially, it was surrounded by a wall with 15 doors, and only one of them opened. At the moment, nothing remains of the wall.
There were several female pharaohs in the history of ancient Egypt.. One of them is Hatshepsut, who ruled in the 15th century BC. e. Her name can be translated as "before the noble ladies." Having removed the young Thutmose III from the throne and declaring himself pharaoh, Hatshepsut continued the restoration of Egypt after the Hyksos raids, and erected a large number of monuments on the territory of her state. In terms of the number of progressive reforms she carried out, she surpassed many male pharaohs.
In the time of Hatshepsut, it was believed that the pharaohs are the incarnations of the god Horus in the earthly world. In order not to sow confusion among the people, the priests reported that Hatshepsut was the daughter of the god Amun. But at many ceremonies, Hatshepsut still appeared in male attire and with a fake beard.
In modern Western culture, Queen Hatshpsut has an image of a smart, energetic woman endowed with analytical abilities. A place for Hatshepsut was found, for example, in the famous exhibition of the artist Judy Chicago "The Dinner Party", dedicated to the great women who influenced the history of mankind.
Pharaoh Akhenaten, who ruled in the XIV century BC. e.- Another popular figure in the history of ancient Egypt. He carried out truly revolutionary religious reforms. He decided to make the previously unimportant god Aten, associated with the solar disk, the center of all religion. At the same time, the cults of all other gods (including Amon-Ra) were banned. That is, in fact, Akhenaten decided to create a monotheistic religion.
In his transformations, Akhenaten relied on people who held high positions in the state, but came from the common people. On the other side, most of hereditary priestly nobility actively resisted the reforms. Ultimately, Akhenaten lost - after his death, the usual religious practices returned to the everyday life of the Egyptians. Representatives of the new XIX dynasty, which came to power ten years later, abandoned the ideas of Akhenaten, these ideas were discredited.
Pharaoh-reformer Akhenaten, who, according to many scientists, was simply ahead of his time
And a few more words should be said about Cleopatra VII, who ruled Egypt for 21 years. She was a truly extraordinary and, apparently, a very attractive woman. It is known that she had an affair first with Julius Caesar, and later with Mark Antony. From the first she gave birth to a son, and from the second - two sons and daughters.
And one more interesting fact: Mark Antony and Cleopatra, when they realized that they could not resist the emperor Octavian, who was eager to capture Egypt, began to arrange endless drinking parties and festive feasts. Soon Cleopatra announced the creation of the "Union of Suicide Bombers", whose members (and all close associates were invited to join it) took an oath that they would die together. During the same period, Cleopatra tested poisons on slaves, wanting to know which one could bring death quickly and without severe pain.
In general, in 30 BC. e. Cleopatra, like her beloved Antony, committed suicide. And Octavian, having established his control over Egypt, turned it into one of the provinces of Rome.
Unique buildings on the Giza plateau
The pyramids on the Giza plateau are the only one of the so-called seven wonders of the world that has survived to this day.
Of greatest interest to Egyptologists and laymen is the Pyramid of Cheops. Its construction lasted about two decades and ended, probably, in 2540 BC. e. For its construction, it took 2,300,000 volumetric stone blocks, their total weight was seven million tons. The height of the pyramid is now 136.5 meters. The architect of this pyramid is called Hemiun, the vizier of Cheops.
Pharaoh Cheops gained the fame of a classical despot. Some sources report that Cheops used harsh measures to force the population to work on the construction of the pyramid. The very name of Cheops after he died was allegedly forbidden to pronounce. And the resources of Egypt as a result of his reign were so depleted that this led to the weakening of the country and the end of the Fourth Dynasty.
The second largest ancient Egyptian pyramid on the same plateau is the Pyramid of Khafre son of Cheops. It is indeed slightly smaller, but at the same time it is located on a higher hill and has a steeper slope. The Khafre Pyramid has the shape of a regular quadrangular figure with sides of 210.5 meters. Inside there is one burial chamber with an area of 71 m 2, in which the sarcophagus of the pharaoh was once kept. This chamber can be accessed through one of two tunnels.
The third pyramid - the pyramid of the pharaoh Menkaure- was built later than the other two. Its height barely reaches 66 meters, the length of the square base is 108.4 meters, and the volume is 260 thousand cubic meters. It is known that once Bottom part The pyramids were finished with red Aswan granite, a little higher the granite was replaced by white limestone. And finally, at the very top, red granite was again used. Unfortunately, the cladding has not been preserved; in the Middle Ages, the Mamluks took it from here and used it for their own needs. The burial chamber in this pyramid is located at ground level.
Next to the three pyramids, everyone can see Great Sphinx- a statue of a lion with a human face. This statue is 72 meters long and 20 meters high. Once between the front paws there was a sanctuary. Exact time the creation of the Sphinx is unknown - there are disputes about this. Someone believes that Chefren erected it, others say that it was Jephedra - another son of Cheops. There are also versions that the Sphinx appeared much earlier, about twelve thousand years ago (allegedly the ancient Egyptians simply dug it up during the dynastic period), and very dubious versions that the Sphinx was created by aliens.
Features of the society and lifestyle of the ancient Egyptians
The Egyptians believed that after death, the court of the god Osiris awaits them, who will put their bad and good deeds on different bowls of special scales. And in order for good deeds to outweigh, in earthly life it is necessary to behave appropriately.
In addition, it was important for the inhabitants of Ancient Egypt that their afterlife was similar to life on earth. Therefore, it was necessary to carefully prepare for the transition to another world. A wealthy Egyptian built an afterlife for himself in advance. When the pharaoh died, not only his body was placed in his tomb, but also many things that could be useful in another life - clothes, jewelry, furniture, etc. In this regard, the fact that the first pyramids were stepped - probably the steps were required so that the pharaoh could somehow rise to the world of the gods.
Egyptian society consisted of several classes and social status was of great importance here. The wealthy Egyptians were in fashion with wigs and elaborate headdresses, and they got rid of their hair. In this way, the problem of lice was solved. But poor people had a hard time - among them it was not customary to cut their hair "under zero".
The main clothing of the Egyptians was the usual loincloth. But rich people, as a rule, also wore shoes. And the pharaohs were accompanied everywhere by sandal bearers - there was such a special position.
Another fun fact: for a long time in Egypt, transparent dresses were popular among wealthy women. In addition, to demonstrate social status Egyptians (and Egyptians too) put on necklaces, bracelets and other similar accessories.
Some professions in ancient Greek society - a warrior, an official, a priest - were inherited. However, to achieve a significant position, thanks to their talents and skills, was also quite realistic.
Most of the able-bodied Egyptians were employed in agriculture, handicrafts or the service sector. And at the very bottom of the social ladder were slaves. They usually performed the role of servants, but at the same time they had the right to buy and sell goods, to receive freedom. And having become free, they could eventually even enter the nobility. The humane attitude towards slaves is also evidenced by the fact that they were entitled to medical care at the workplace.
In general, Egyptian healers were very enlightened for their time. They were well versed in the human body and carried out very complex operations. According to the studies of Egyptologists, even the transplantation of some organs for local healers was not a problem. It is also interesting that in ancient Egypt some of the infectious diseases were treated with moldy bread - this can be considered a kind of analogue of modern antibiotics.
Also, the Egyptians actually invented mummification. This process looked like this: internal organs removed and placed in vessels, and soda was applied to the body itself so that it would not decompose. After drying the body, its cavities were filled with linen soaked in a special balm. And finally on last step the body was bandaged and closed in a sarcophagus.
Relations between men and women in ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, men and women had almost equal legal rights. The mother was considered the head of the family. The pedigree was conducted strictly along the maternal line, and land ownership also passed from mother to daughter. Of course, the spouse had the right to dispose of the land while the spouse was alive, but when she died, the daughter received the entire inheritance. It turns out that a marriage with the heir to the throne could well give a man the right to rule the country. Including for this reason, the pharaoh married his sisters and daughters - in this way he protected himself from other possible contenders for power.
Marriages in ancient Egypt were mostly monogamous. However, a rich Egyptian man, along with his legal wife, could keep a concubine. On the other hand, a woman who had more than one man could be punished.
Marriage in ancient Egypt was not consecrated by priests, the Egyptians did not arrange magnificent wedding festivities either. In order for the wedding to be recognized as valid, the man had to say "I take you as a wife", and the woman had to answer "You take me as your wife." It is important to add here that it was the Egyptians who first began to wear wedding rings on the ring finger- this custom was later adopted by the Greeks and Romans.
Ancient Egyptian newlyweds also exchanged gifts with each other. Moreover, during a divorce, you could return your gift (a very good custom). And in the later periods of the history of Ancient Egypt, the conclusion of marriage contracts became quite common practice.
Documentary "Ancient Egypt. The history of the creation of the ancient Egyptian civilization "