In certain kingdoms of ancient Egypt, the word Pharoah was used to refer to the position or office of the kingdom's ruler , the building in which the ruler resided or the ruler him or herself. This vintage ad from the Westvaco paper company shows a reproduction of a Pharoah found on an ancient Faience pot held by the Metropolitan Museum in New York.
This representation is typical of images of the Pharoah which present the figure as sexually ambivalent in outward appearance. Perhaps this ambivalence was a result of the Pharoah being considered a demi-God and as such, possessive of an immortality not attainable by mortal men and women who must rely on their procreative powers to sustain the human race. In addition, the Pharoah, who could be either male or female, wore somewhat indistinct costumes which consisted of long ornate headdresses and false beards among other items.
Pharoah
