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In ancient Egpyt politics and religion were combined in a way history has never seen before or since. Usually those that wield military power and those that command spiritual respect or even worship are not two and the same but the Egyptians married the two aspets into one role. They called it Pharaoh.

The pharaoh was the ruler of the land with no questions or equivication. The word pharoah means "great house" or "temple". They were thought of as conduits for the divine and thus worshipped. This accounts for their amazingly unfliching support of these rulers.

Many of the pharaohs in fact created their own Gods! There are many such examples of this throughout their literature and history. One that stands out was the creaction of the god Serapis by the Greek pharoah Ptolemy I.

I think the pharaohs are a special event in history that will never be repeated. They were to their peoepl warrior gods and the thought is in a violent society a very compelling one. But thankfully they are left in the past and the speration of church and state the rule almost worldwide.

Learn more about this author, Royce Radcliffe.
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