Divine Kingship & the King as Guarantor of Ma'at
Without a king doing ma'at, Egyptians feared, the whole world would slide into chaos.
For Egyptians, kingship was not merely political but cosmic: the king was the one figure who kept the world in order, performing the rites that sustained the gods and the state, defending the land, and ensuring the Nile, the harvests, and justice. To 'do ma'at' was the king's defining task. Middle Kingdom 'pessimistic' literature evokes a world sliding into chaos when this order breaks down — imagery conventionally read against the memory of the First Intermediate Period.
Key passages(12)
The Pyramid Texts · 2350 BCE
[Utterance 1] 1a. To say by Nut, the brilliant, the great: This is (my) son, (my) first born, N., opener of (my) womb; 1b. this is (my) beloved, with whom I have been satisfied. [Utterance 2] 1c. To s
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Horus: Great of appearances, Two Ladies: Perfect of birth, Gold Horus: Who unites the Two Lands, The king of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of the Two Lands: Nebpehtire, Son of Re, his beloved: Ahmose (m
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Words said by Amun-Re, lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands: 'May you come to me and rejoice at seeing my beauty, my son, my avenger, Menkheperre (may he live forever!). I shine for your sake, my hear
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<"a"> The king of Upper and Lower Egypt, lord of the Two Lands ... ..., given life forever. <"b"> Amun-Re, lord of the Thrones of the Two Lands, lord of heaven, king of the gods. <"c"> Mut, mistress o
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<"v"> Prince regent, count, royal seal-keeper, overseer of the administration, deputy of the treasurer, Sehetepibre, justified, says: 'I built this grave, which was consecrated after its place had bee
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... How pleasant is this in the hearts of the people, how beautiful is this in the sight of the gods, that you are building monuments for Osiris, that you sanctify the foremost of those in the west, t
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<48:13> Horus: Powerful of spirits; Two Ladies: Prosperous of years; Gold Horus: Divine of appearance; The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Maatkare; sacred image of Amun, she whom he wanted to be on hi
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Second Semneh stela under Sesostris III
Live Horus: Divine of being; Two Ladies: Divine of birth; The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Khakaure, given life; Gold Horus: Living of being; Son of Re, of his body, his beloved, lord of the Two Lan
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The Great Hymn to the Aten · 1345 BCE
Thou art in my heart, There is no other that knoweth thee Save thy son Ikhnaton. Thou hast made him wise In thy designs and in thy might. The world is in thy hand, Even as thou hast made them. When th
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Nubian Rebellion, recorded by inscription of Tuthmosis II
<47:2> Year 1, second month of the Season of Inundation, day 8. Appearance by the majesty of Horus: Mighty bull, powerful in strength; Two Ladies: Divine of kingship; Gold Horus: Mighty of being; The
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Prince-regent and count, magistrate and commissioner of the domains of the sovereign in the lands of the bedouin, true and beloved acquaintance of the king, follower Sinuhe says: 'I was a follower who
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Year 2, second month of the Season of Inundation, day 15, under the majesty of Horus: Mighty bull, beloved of Maat; Two Ladies: Shining as a flame, great of strength; Gold Horus: Perfect of years, who
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