The Pharaoh was officially the head of the legal system in ancient Egypt. The Pharaoh had the responsibility of enacting laws, delivering justice, and maintaining law and order.
In ancient Egypt, the concept of law and order was inextricably linked to the divine, with the Pharaoh at the center of the system. The Pschent, a crown that represented the Pharaoh’s sovereignty over both Lower and Upper Egypt, exemplified this unity. This crown combined the Red Crown of Lower Egypt with the White Crown of Upper Egypt. By wearing the Pschent, the Pharaoh symbolized the union of these two territories under a single monarch.
The Pharaoh’s responsibilities went far beyond giving commands and conducting troops. He was regarded as the living embodiment of Maat, the ancient Egyptian concept of cosmic order, truth, and justice. Maat encompassed all aspects of life, including resolving disputes, calculating equitable taxation, and carrying out rites. And, as the upholder of Maat, the Pharaoh was regarded as the ultimate judge and lawgiver.
The Pharaohs of Egypt, dressed in their Pschent, nemes headdress, and exquisite shendyt, stood as potent emblems of a divine reign that lasted over 3,000 years, governing their people with authority and upholding the sacred order of Maat. This function elevated the Pharaoh from being a political leader to a figure who connected the earthly and the divine, embodying continuity, stability, and Egypt’s unity.