Most known Pharaohs of The Egyptian Empire

According to the chronicles of ancient history, the Egyptian Empire is one of the most extraordinary civilisations to have graced our earth.

00:18 12 October 2023

According to the chronicles of ancient history, the Egyptian Empire is one of the most extraordinary civilisations to have graced our earth. The reigns of several pharaohs left an everlasting mark on history within its sands.

The amazing brilliance of the Ancient Egyptian kingdom is difficult to reconcile with how long ago it existed. However, the legends of the Ancient Egyptian pharaohs bring us closer to an enthralling civilisation. Let's explore the lives and legacies of the most renowned pharaohs (in no specific order).

Ramses II

Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, ruled during the 19th Dynasty and left an unparalleled mark on Egypt's landscape. Renowned for his prolific building projects, he erected monumental structures. 

His impressive reign of over six decades also saw military conquests and diplomatic endeavours that shaped Egypt's prominence during his time.

Hatshepsut

After her husband's death, Hatshepsut rose to the throne and ruled for nearly 21 years. She wasn't the first female Pharaoh, but she was certainly one of the most famous. Her reign as the fifth Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty was prosperous. 

She reigned with power, dressed in male clothes, over a time of exceptional progress and wealth. Hatshepsut is regarded as one of the most productive architects in Egyptian history. 

Her funerary temple at Deir el-Bahari is a tribute to her vision and strength, with creative architectural ideas that continue to awe people today. The temple also represents another significant movement in mortuary temple architecture, shifting from a focus on monumental magnificence to one on active worship.

Akhenaten

Akhenaten, known for his revolutionary religious reforms, sought to shift Egypt from its polytheistic beliefs to worship a single deity—the sun disc, Aten. The Egyptians were accustomed to worshipping a wide variety of gods, but Akhenaten attempted to convert this religious practice to monotheistic, or the worship of only one god. 

This is explained well in Ra, a Charles River publication that explains the history of the sun and creator god. Although the sun god still appears today in beloved games like the Book of Ra. This marked departure from tradition led to an upheaval in Egypt's religious and artistic practices. 

His reign, though controversial and short-lived, left an enduring impact on the culture and artistic expression of the era. The populace and subsequent pharaohs disliked his shift so much that after Akhenaten's death, they resumed their previous religious practices and demolished his statues. 

Thutmose III

Often referred to as the "Napoleon of Egypt," Thutmose III expanded the Egyptian empire to its greatest territorial extent. His military campaigns and strategic acumen solidified Egypt's dominance across the Near East. 

His mortuary temple at Deir el-Bahari showcases his achievements and the grandeur of his era. He ruled for about 54 years and ran at least sixteen campaigns. Much of Nubia, Canaan, and Syria were conquered by him. 

He made substantial contributions to constructing several sites, the most famous of which was the temple at Karnak. One of this temple's obelisks was re-erected as the Obelisk of Theodosius in Istanbul, Turkey. 

King Tutankhamun

King Tutankhamun, frequently endearingly referred to as King Tut, was an intriguing figure in ancient Egypt. He succeeded in ascending to power when he was about nine years old, making him Egypt's youngest ruler. 

The discovery of his virtually intact tomb in the Valley of the Kings in 1922 unveiled an astounding array of treasures, offering a tantalising glimpse into the opulence and grandeur of his era. King Tut reigned for about 10 years. 

Despite his brief reign, King Tut's legacy symbolises ancient Egyptian splendour. Tutankhamun's death remains a mystery, but his mummy allowed Egyptologists to perform crucial studies on mummification. His legacy lives on even today in pop culture, academia and various other fields.

Cleopatra VII

Cleopatra VII, the last male or female pharaoh of Egypt, remains an enigmatic and influential figure. Her strategic alliances with Roman leaders, notably Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, positioned Egypt on the global stage. Apart from being a powerful and influential leader, she was also a diplomat, naval commander and linguist, as well as the only known Ptolemaic ruler to learn the Egyptian language.

Cleopatra's charisma and intellect captivated these Roman leaders. Her political and personal international contacts were of enormous importance to the monarchy and resulted in much lucrative overseas trade. 

She died by suicide, yet her narrative lives on in literature, art and film. This showed her relentlessness, choosing to die by her own hand and free will. This, along with her enormous political influence, is why she remains one of history's most illustrious ladies. It is widely regarded that her death effectively brought about the end of the Egyptian Empire.

Gazing Back on Antiquity

The tapestry of the Egyptian Empire is woven with the threads of these remarkable pharaohs, each contributing their unique chapters to the annals of history. From King Tutankhamun's youthful mystique to Cleopatra's political intrigue, their stories echo through time. They speak of great power and cunning minds, political shifts and cultural phenomena.

Ramses II's architectural prowess and Thutmose III's military brilliance further enriched Egypt's narrative. Hatshepsut's courage and Akhenaten's audacity pushed boundaries, leaving an indelible imprint on civilization. 

As we gaze back upon the sands of antiquity, we find in these pharaohs the embodiment of leadership, legacy and the enduring pursuit of greatness. They were individuals with great power, which have made their mark on the world in numerous ways.

Final words

While the vastness of the desert and the ruthlessness of the sands may have buried the works of these great leaders, their legacy still echoes throughout the centuries, finding their way into every aspect of modern culture.

There is no denying the greatness of these leaders and their influence can even be felt in popular culture, with numerous video games and online entertainment options depicting scenes and influential individuals of these ancient but not forgotten eras. As the wheel of time continues to turn, their legacy still lives on - even today.