A. Sutherland  – AncientPages.com – Ancient Egyptians believed that the great gods had created the universe and maintained order; they were also involved in people’s everyday lives and survival.

One of the gods was also sent in mortal form into the Nile Valley to rule as the king who would protect them from warlike and dangerous peoples of the Mediterranean world and look after their well-being.

For more than 3,000 years, the pharaoh was the principal figure in everyday life, seen as the gods’ representative on Earth and as one of the gods. He played a crucial role in the Egyptian cult. As a god and the personification of Egypt, he possessed more power than any other monarch recorded in human history.

However, he was not only a strong ruler but also a high priest, a lawmaker, and a battle commander. The pharaoh was both a political and a religious leader.

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