Day in the life

Like most people with busy careers, the Pharaoh of anctient Egypt had a schedule that he followed almost every day. First, he woke up early in the morning and got dressed by servants. They also lathered him in special oils and gave him perfume to make him appear more "attractive". As 'Lord of the Two Lands' the pharaoh was the ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt. He owned all of the land, made laws, collected taxes, and defended Egypt against foreigners. As 'High Priest of Every Temple', the pharaoh represented the gods on Earth. He performed rituals and built temples to honour the gods. Palaces were the residences of the pharaohs and their entourage. They consisted of a complex of buildings designed to house the headquarters of power and the temples for worshipping the gods. One such palace-temple is found at Medinet Habu, across from the former site of Thebes, on the other side of the Nile. The Pharaohs lived in temples, and had servants that did everything for them. The Pharaoh spent his free time visiting construction sites built in his honor and taking tours of the city in his chariot. They used things such as a small gong, papyrus, a chariot, and a basket to help them get through their daily duties. As ancient Egyptian rulers, pharaohs were both the heads of state and the religious leaders of their people. As a statesman, the pharaoh made laws, waged war, collected taxes, and oversaw all the land in Egypt . Many scholars believe the first pharaoh was Narmer, also called Menes