Chapter 16
Back to Eater of Souls
"'What I saw was a battle-ax, but not one used by an ordinary soldier. It was like those given to great warriors by generals and kings'" (248-249).
Pharaohs, as well as governing all of Egypt and acting as a divine intermediary between the gods and the people, was in charge of leading battles, conquests, and expeditions to far off lands. In this quote, Meren is revealing to Kysen that he believes that the murderer is a great soldier, a fact that he supports with the evidence of the style of the knife. In ancient Egypt, the pharaoh was the commander of the army, deciding when to attack, where to attack, and devising battle strategies. They also had control over the soldiers in their army, and, as this quote reveals, they were often tasked with the job of rewarding those who were amazing warriors. Many great kings, including Kamose, Amose, Rameses II, Thutmose III, reveal that the outcome of Egypt's future, determined by warfare, lay in the hands of the pharaoh.
Sources:
