Final answer:
In Ancient Egypt, the pharaoh was not only a political figure but also divine, considered the living embodiment of Horus, the god of justice and the sky. This association reinforced the pharaoh's role as the intermediary between the gods and the people, and his duty to maintain cosmic order.
Step-by-step explanation:
The pharaoh in Ancient Egypt was not just a political leader but was revered as a divine figure. Specifically, the pharaoh was considered to be the incarnation of Horus, the falcon-headed god, a symbol of justice and the sky. The belief that the pharaoh was Horus incarnate established him as a living god on earth and as the intermediary between the gods and the people. This association with Horus was part of the wider Egyptian religious belief system, where the pharaoh played a central role in maintaining the order and harmony of the universe as deemed by the gods.
The concept of divine kingship in Egypt highlighted the king as a complex figure who embodied both the terrestrial and divine realms, and it was the role of the living king to ensure the continuity of this sacred order. The divine aspect of kingship lent authority to the human ruler and reinforced the stability of Egyptian society. Thus, the pharaoh, associated with Horus, symbolized by the golden falcon or hawk, was central to the religious and political life in ancient Egypt.