Idea of “Divine King” in Pharaonic Egypt and Pre-Colonial Africa in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

Introduction: Much of pre-colonial Africa's history is unknown due to a lack of writing systems south of the Sahara. Surviving oral accounts are incomplete. Researchers rely on Arabic chronicles, European travelers' records, and present-day African traditions to reconstruct the past. Charles Gabriel Seligman defined a "divine king" as a ruler who: 1) has power over nature; 2) serves as the universe's dynamic center, with strictly regulated actions influencing all beings; and 3) must be killed if his power wanes, to protect the world. This description also applies to the rulers of ancient Egypt.

 Aim: This study is dedicated to the topic of divine kings and the similarities and differences between the concept of divine kingship on the African continent.

 Materials and Methods: The paper uses reports published by anthropologists. The reports recorded certain African customs. These customs are then compared with sources from ancient Egypt. The analytical method was used.

 Results: The results of the analysis demonstrate that ancient Egyptian traditions are not entirely disconnected from their African background, and this relationship should not be overlooked in interpreting ancient Egyptian customs.

 Conclusions: The Egyptian pharaoh embodied the African “divine king” tradition, with the Sed festival replacing ritual regicide, as seen in other African cultures. Although revered, pharaohs were still considered mortal, as evidenced by historical assassination attempts. This dual view echoes the “Mandate of Heaven” idea: if chaos prevails, the ruler is not truly divine. Customs like sibling marriage set divine kings apart, reinforcing their unique status. Overall, Egyptian kingship shares strong ties with broader African traditions.