The King as Horus, Son of Ra
The living king was Horus on earth; his dead father became Osiris.
Egyptians regarded the living king as a manifestation of the god Horus and, from the Old Kingdom, as the 'Son of Ra,' the sun god. The dead king became identified with Osiris while his heir became the new Horus, making the succession itself a re-enactment of the Osiris myth. The king's divinity was bound to the office more than to the man, and his central duty was to uphold ma'at on the gods' behalf.
Key passages(9)
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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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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The king of Upper and Lower Egypt: Aakheperkare; Son of Re: Tuthmosis, given life forever. Praising the god four times. Ahmose, may she live! Nofret-iry, may she live, prosper and be healthy! Royal de
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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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<A1> Horus: Mighty bull, beloved of Maat; <A2> the good god Aakheperkare, given life, <A3> who overthrew Kush, <A4> beloved of Amun-Re. <B1> Horus: Mighty bull, beloved of Maat; <B2> The king of Upper
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Rock inscriptions of Tuthmosis I at first cataract
<A1> Year 3, first month of the Season of Harvest, day 22, under the majesty of Horus: Mighty bull, beloved of Maat; <A2> Two Ladies: Shining as a flame, great of strength; Gold Horus: Perfect of year
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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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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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