The early dynastic and old kingdom periods - The physical representation of pharaoh

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Wooden inner coffin of Irtyru, 26th Dynasty

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[ FOUNDATION OF THE PHARAONIC STATE ] [ PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION ] [ PHARAOH'S DIVINE POWER ] [ REGENERATION AND POLITICAL UPHEAVAL ] [ ADMINISTRATION ] [ RELIGION AND TOMB DEVELOPMENT ]

The physical representation of pharaoh

REVERSE SIDE (left) of the Narmer Palette shows a finely carved and highly detailed raised relief of a king, undoubtedly Narmer, ready to strike down a foe whom he grabs by the hair. This pose would become typical in Ancient Egyptian art. He wears a short skirt, an animal's tail and the white crown. FRONT (right) of the palette shows Narmer wearing the red crown inspecting a heap of beheaded corpses. He holds a mace in his left hand and a flail in his right. The central scene shows two men tying together the long necks of two strange animals, possibly representing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.

The Narmer Palette also set the artistic canon of representation, depicting the pharaoh as all-powerful, warrior like, smiting his enemies and always shown larger than any other character, emphasising his godly status.

The human form when represented, took on a peculiar style. The head was seen in profile along with arms and legs, which would often show the person with two left feet or right hands. The torso would be drawn in a frontal view, the hips three-quarters turned and the eye enlarged.

This artistic canon remained a constant for some 1600 years and changed only once throughout Ancient Egypt’s history, during the reign of Akhenaten in the 18th Dynasty.

The reverse side of the Narmer Palette (left) shows a finely carved and highly detailed raised relief of a king, undoubtedly Narmer, ready to strike down a foe whom he grabs by the hair. This pose would become typical in Ancient Egyptian art. He wears a short skirt, an animal's tail and the white crown.

The front of the palette (right) shows Narmer wearing the red crown inspecting a heap of beheaded corpses. He holds a mace in his left hand and a flail in his right. The central scene shows two men tying together the long necks of two strange animals, possibly representing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Details from the palette


Back central scene: Narmer is shown striking down a foe whom he grabs by the hair. On the upper RH side is shown marshland, denoted by six papyrus plants topped by a falcon that symbolises the king. With its claw, the falcon appears to be drawing the "life" out of the mouth of the marshland's "face". This has often been seen as a possible reference to the Nile Delta.		Back lower scene: Two "enemies" symbolising two conquered towns are represented beneath the feet of Narmer from the central section. Their sprawled inclined postures indicate that they are "fallen" and the hieroglyphs beside them may refer to the towns that have been overthrown by Narmer.


Front central scene: Two men are shown tying together the long entwined necks of two strange animals, possibly representing the unification of Upper and Lower Egypt.		Front lower scene: A bull is shown destroying the walls of a city or fort with its horns, and tramples a fallen "enemy" in the foreground. The bull is thought to represent the force and strength of the king. Written inside the fortified walls is the unknown name of the city.

Pharaoh's divine power >>