As the rulers of ancient Egypt, pharaohs were the head of state and the religious leaders of the civilization. The word pharaoh means Great House, a reference to where the pharaoh lives, the palace. The pharaoh was considered a representative of the gods; this being said, on the religious side, they had to build temples and monuments to honor the gods, participate in religious ceremonies, and maintain religious harmony. On the political side, they had to defend Egypt, collect taxes, and appoint bureaucrats.