Egypt is of the countries in Africa and the Middle East. The ancient name for Egypt is Kemet meaning ‘black land’. It had obtained its name owing to the fertile black soil found on the plains of the Nile river which flows through Egypt.

Egypt is also known for its historical monuments like the Giza pyramid complex and even the Egyptian civilization holds a lot of importance. Egypt is a country which has political and cultural significance for the Middle East. Egypt derived its English name from various sources like the French word Egypt, from Latin Aegyptus and ancient Greek Aigyptos.
Pharaoh is a modern title given to ancient Egyptian rulers. However, the Kings were not referred to as Pharaoh by the ancient Egyptians. The term ‘Pharaoh’ was basically used by Greek and Hebrews. The word par’o in Hebrew referred to the word ‘pr’ in Egyptian language which meant ‘the great house’.

The term ‘Pharaoh’ was always used in relation to the Royal Palace and it meant for the life, prosperity and health of the palace. From the fifteenth century BC Pharaoh was used as a synonym to King. However, the first use of the word ‘pharaoh’ can be traced to the New Kingdom during the middle of the eighteenth dynasty.

After 2000 BC, Pharaoh was referred to by five names, four of them being his throne names and one was the name given to him at the time of his birth. The late Egyptian word, the par’o word was reconstructed as per the Ancient Greek and Late Latin words pronounced as ‘Pharaoh’. It was from this letter that the English word ‘Pharaoh’ was obtained.

The early Egyptian dynasties had three titles namely, Horus, Nesw Bity and Nebty. The oldest title amongst the three was Horus which can be traced back to the late pre-dynastic period. It was a title given to a King when he ascended the throne. The name was written on a square frame which symbolized the palace.

Horus was also related with gold and it was believed that god’s body is made of gold. The ancient Egyptian people believed that Pharaoh was God Horus, the son of God Re or the Sun God.

On the death of a Pharaoh it was assumed that he should be united with the sun. The title Nesw Bity was used from the middle of the first dynasty and can be translated to mean King of Lower and Upper Egypt. Nebty was a title used from the end of the first dynasty.

During the Old and Middle Kingdoms, the Egyptian kings were normally buried in pyramids. These pyramids were constructed on the edges of the dessert. But during the period of the New Kingdom, the Kings were buried in the Valley of the Kings, located at Thebes.

These tombs were basically tunnels made in the natural rock. It is said that the Pharaoh or the Kings had many wives but only one amongst them was the Queen.

There have been traces of Kings wearing Red crowns particularly in the Lower Egypt and White crowns in the Upper Egypt. Both these crowns are dated to the pre-dynastic period.

A mixture of the Red and White crown known as Pschent crown was traced in the middle of the First Dynasty of Egypt. The Kings wore Khat headdress the end of which was like a ponytail. Also, the use of Nemes headdress is known.