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== The Divine Kingship ==

== The Divine Kingship ==

The Pharaoh was a divine [[King]] (sometimes referred to as a God-King), who ruled as an [[absolute monarch]]. He was associated with numerous [[Egyptian mythology|Egyptian gods]], but the most significant relationship was the Pharaoh being the living image or earthly incarnation of [[Horus]]. This was an extremely important foundation for Pharaonic ideology, as Horus is closely associated with the ideals of Kingship in theology, being the rightful successor to the murdered [[Osiris]]. It is also the oldest of the divine associations, dating back at least as far as the reign of [[Narmer]], at the beginning of the Dynastic period. The Horus name in the royal titulary links directly to this association.

The Pharaoh was a divine [[King]] (sometimes referred to as a God-King), who ruled as an [[Absolute monarchy|absolute monarch]]. He was associated with numerous [[Egyptian mythology|Egyptian gods]], but the most significant relationship was the Pharaoh being the living image or earthly incarnation of [[Horus]]. This was an extremely important foundation for Pharaonic ideology, as Horus is closely associated with the ideals of Kingship in theology, being the rightful successor to the murdered [[Osiris]]. It is also the oldest of the divine associations, dating back at least as far as the reign of [[menes|Narmer]], at the beginning of the Dynastic period. The Horus name in the royal titulary links directly to this association.

The Pharaoh was also the Son of [[Ra]], as explicitly stated in the royal titulary from the reign of [[Djedfra]] (4th Dyn.) onward. This was a very important association in the [[old kingdom|Old]] and [[Middle Kingdom]], when [[Ra]] was the supreme state god, and remained significant throughout Pharaonic history. When Amun became solarised in the 18th dynasty as [[Amun-Ra]], the Pharaoh came to be seen as the son of this combined form of the [[sun god]] as well.

The Pharaoh was also the Son of [[Ra]], as explicitly stated in the royal titulary from the reign of [[Djedfra]] (4th Dyn.) onward. This was a very important association in the [[old kingdom|Old]] and [[Middle Kingdom]], when [[Ra]] was the supreme state god, and remained significant throughout Pharaonic history. When Amun became solarised in the 18th dynasty as [[Amun-Ra]], the Pharaoh came to be seen as the son of this combined form of the [[sun god]] as well.

The Pharaoh could also be directly worshipped as an independent god in his own right, and it is known that temples to Senusret III, Ahmose I, Amunhotep II, Amunhotep III, and Ramesses II existed. In addition to these, every Pharoh was worshipped after his death in a mortuary cult, the central temple of which was the pyramid complex in the Old and Middle Kingdoms, and the mortuary temple in later periods. These cults were state sponsored, sometimes for centuries following the death of the ruler concerned. Several Pharaohs were also worshipped outside [[Egypt]].

The Pharaoh could also be directly worshipped as an independent god in his own right, and it is known that temples to Senusret III, Ahmose I, Amunhotep II, Amunhotep III, and Ramesses II existed. In addition to these, every Pharoh was worshipped after his death in a mortuary cult, the central temple of which was the pyramid complex in the Old and Middle Kingdoms, and the mortuary temple in later periods. These cults were state sponsored, sometimes for centuries following the death of the ruler concerned. Several Pharaohs were also worshipped outside [[Egypt]].

== The Dual Kingship ==

== The Dual Kingship ==