pharaoh

/ˈfɛroʊ/

Other forms: pharaohs

In ancient Egypt, a king was known as a pharaoh. Ramses the Great, one of the most powerful pharaohs, ruled Egypt for almost 70 years.

The pharaohs played important roles in both religious and everyday life — they were viewed as emissaries between mortals and gods. These monarchs were also military commanders, landowners, and tax collectors. The spiritual component of a pharaoh's job included choosing sites for new temples and leading religious ceremonies. Today, we know several pharaohs mainly from their mummified remains found in tombs by archaeologists. Pharaoh comes from an Egyptian root meaning "great house."

Definitions of pharaoh

1. noun

   an ancient Egyptian king
   synonyms: Pharaoh, Pharaoh of Egypt

   examples:

   Tutankhamen

   Pharaoh of Egypt around 1358 BC; his tomb was discovered almost intact by Howard Carter in 1922

   types:

   Cheops, Khufu

   Egyptian Pharaoh of the 27th century BC who commissioned the Great Pyramid at Giza

   type of:

   ruler, swayer

   a person who rules or commands