Hidden Facts About Pharaohs You Didn’t Know

The pharaohs of ancient Egypt were among the most powerful rulers in history, controlling vast lands and commanding absolute authority. While many people know about famous pharaohs like Tutankhamun, Ramses II, and Cleopatra, there are many hidden facts about these ancient rulers that remain largely unknown. Let’s uncover some surprising secrets about the pharaohs that might change the way you see ancient Egypt.

1. Pharaohs Weren’t Always Egyptian

While we often associate pharaohs with native Egyptians, some of the rulers of Egypt were actually foreigners. For example, the Hyksos, a group of Asiatic people, ruled Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period (c. 1650–1550 BCE). Later, in the 25th Dynasty, Egypt was ruled by the Nubian pharaohs, also known as the "Black Pharaohs" of Kush.

2. Female Pharaohs Were More Common Than You Think

Hatshepsut is one of the most well-known female pharaohs, but she wasn’t the only woman to take the throne. Sobekneferu (around 1806–1802 BCE) was the first recorded female pharaoh. Others, like Cleopatra VII, ruled as powerful leaders. Some queens even disguised themselves as men to secure their rule.

3. Pharaohs Had Secret Hidden Tombs

While the pyramids were grand burial places for early pharaohs, later rulers were buried in hidden tombs in the Valley of the Kings. These tombs were meant to protect them from grave robbers. However, despite these efforts, almost all the tombs were looted in ancient times. The tomb of Tutankhamun, discovered intact in 1922, is a rare exception.

4. Some Pharaohs Had Unusual Physical Features

Some pharaohs suffered from serious health conditions due to inbreeding. Tutankhamun, for example, had a clubfoot, scoliosis, and other genetic disorders. Studies on his mummy revealed that he likely needed a cane to walk. Akhenaten, the "heretic king," had an elongated skull and feminine features, which some experts believe could be due to a genetic disorder or artistic stylization.

5. The Curse of the Pharaohs Might Have Some Truth

The idea of a "curse of the pharaohs" became famous after the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Many members of the excavation team reportedly died under mysterious circumstances. While modern science attributes these deaths to infections, toxins, or coincidences, ancient Egyptians truly believed in powerful curses to protect their tombs from intruders.

6. Pharaohs Performed Religious Duties Like High Priests

The pharaoh was not just a ruler but also a religious leader. They were considered gods on Earth and acted as the high priest of every temple. They performed sacred rituals, including making offerings to gods and even participating in ceremonies that ensured the flooding of the Nile for fertile lands.

7. Ramses II Had Over 100 Children

Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, had one of the longest reigns in Egyptian history (66 years). He had at least 100 children from multiple wives and concubines. His many statues and temples across Egypt prove his desire to be remembered as one of the greatest rulers.

8. Pharaohs Wore Fake Beards – Even the Women

The famous royal beard seen on statues of pharaohs was often a false beard attached with straps. Even female pharaohs like Hatshepsut wore one to symbolize their divine authority. The beard was considered a sign of power and was used in religious ceremonies.

9. Pharaohs Had Pet Lions and Exotic Animals

Pharaohs kept exotic animals as a symbol of their strength and connection to the gods. Lions, baboons, and even cheetahs were kept in royal palaces. Ramses II was known to have pet lions that he took into battle with him.

10. Cleopatra Wasn’t Actually Egyptian

Despite being one of the most famous Egyptian rulers, Cleopatra VII was actually of Greek descent. She was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, which ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great’s conquest. She was the first Ptolemaic ruler to learn the Egyptian language, as most of her ancestors only spoke Greek.

11. Some Pharaohs Tried to Erase Others from History

Hatshepsut’s successor, Thutmose III, tried to erase her memory by removing her name from monuments. Akhenaten’s revolutionary religious ideas led later pharaohs to try to erase all evidence of his rule. This practice, known as damnatio memoriae, was meant to remove a pharaoh from history so they wouldn’t be remembered in the afterlife.

12. Pharaohs Built Cities, Not Just Tombs

While pyramids and temples are well-known, some pharaohs also built entire cities. Akhenaten built a new capital called Amarna, dedicated to his monotheistic worship of the sun god Aten. Ramses II built the massive city of Pi-Ramesses, which became one of the most powerful cities in ancient Egypt.

Final Thoughts

The pharaohs were more than just rulers; they were warriors, priests, and sometimes even living gods. Many of their secrets remain hidden beneath the sands of Egypt, waiting to be discovered. These hidden facts remind us that history is full of surprises, and there is always more to learn about the incredible world of the pharaohs.