Egyptian Pharaohs

Pharaohs were the rulers of ancient Egypt. People believed pharaohs were chosen by the gods. They had all the power in the land and made all the big decisions. Some pharaohs were men, and some were women. Egypt had pharaohs for more than 3,000 years.

Their Power

Pharaohs were seen as both kings and gods. They ruled the army, made laws, and owned all the land. People worked very hard to please them. Pharaohs wore fancy clothes, gold jewelry, and special crowns. A false beard was part of the pharaoh's royal outfit.

Famous Pharaohs

Some pharaohs are still famous today. King Tut became pharaoh when he was only about nine years old. Ramses the Great ruled for over 60 years and built huge statues. Cleopatra was one of the last pharaohs of Egypt and spoke many languages. Hatshepsut was a powerful female pharaoh who wore a false beard like male kings did.

Fun Facts

• The word 'pharaoh' means 'great house' in ancient Egyptian.
• King Tut's tomb was found in 1922 with lots of gold treasure.
• Pharaohs often had their names written inside a special oval shape called a cartouche.

Did You Know?

Some pharaohs had more than 100 children, and they kept lists of their family members on temple walls.