III.

The Pharaoh’s Powers

During their reigns, Egypt’s pharaohs wielded an absolute power that was centered on their being. They exercised power in both the spiritual and worldly realms. Considered the only intercessors between the human world and the world of the gods, pharaohs occupied the position of the leading priest of the kingdom. In this role pharaohs were responsible for ensuring the order of the universe and the smooth running of the cosmos, from guiding the Sun in its daily path across the sky to managing the rise and retreat of the Nile flood waters and the gathering of the harvest.

As the person who guaranteed the unity of the Egyptian kingdom, the pharaoh held all political, judicial, and military powers. Current affairs were dealt with by a powerful and highly organized administrative bureaucracy. At the top of the hierarchy was the vizier, who was viewed as the eyes and ears of the pharaoh. Although some powers might be delegated to the vizier, the pharaoh always maintained personal control of the army.