ABSTRACT
The king of ancient Egypt based his legitimacy on the fact that he was descended from the sun god, and he ruled his land as the son of the sun. The importance of the king’s mother is that she was the medium by which divinity and legitimacy passed on to her son. The queen was not necessarily divine, although she was associated with the goddess Hathor, who was the wife of Ra, and therefore the king’s divine mother. As the source of her son’s legitimacy, the king’s mother held a special position, with titles given only her, as well as a headdress that stated her status in the old Kingdom. Her son could also dedicate a chapel for the cult of her ka or soul, or a chapel for her statue. This discussion will present the importance and place of the king’s mother in the period of the Old Kingdom (2686–2160 BCE) and the Middle Kingdom (2055–1650 BCE), presenting the relevant archaeological and inscriptional evidence that has been preserved.
