Editing Old Kingdom of Egypt (section)

===Rise of the Old Kingdom===
{{Main|Third Dynasty of Egypt}}

The first King of the Old Kingdom was [[Djoser]] (sometime between 2691 and 2625 BC) of the [[Third Dynasty of Egypt|Third Dynasty]], who ordered the construction of a pyramid (the [[Pyramid of Djoser|Step Pyramid]]) in Memphis' necropolis, [[Saqqara]]. An important person during the reign of Djoser was his [[Vizier (Ancient Egypt)|vizier]], [[Imhotep]].

It was in this era that formerly independent ancient Egyptian states became known as [[Nome (Egypt)|nomes]], under the rule of the king. The former rulers were forced to assume the role of governors or otherwise work in tax collection. [[Egyptians]] in this era believed the king to be the incarnation of [[Horus]], linking the human and spiritual worlds. Egyptian views on the nature of time during this period held that the universe worked in cycles, and the Pharaoh on earth worked to ensure the stability of those cycles. They also perceived themselves as specially selected people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.louisville.edu/a-s/history/herlin/textsup.htm|title=Ancient African Civilizations to ca. 1500: Pharaonic Egypt to Ca. 800 BC|last=Herlin|first=Susan J.|year=2003|page=27|access-date=23 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030823031522/http://www.louisville.edu/a-s/history/herlin/textsup.htm|archive-date=August 23, 2003}}</ref>

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File:Saqqara BW 5.jpg|The [[Pyramid of Djoser]] at [[Saqqara]].
File:Templo de Zoser en Saqqara.jpg|The Temple of Djoser at [[Saqqara]]
File:Head of a King, ca. 2650-2600 B.C.E..jpg|The head of a King, likely [[Huni]] {{Circa|2650}}–2600 BC, [[Brooklyn Museum]]. The earliest representations of Egyptian Kings are on a small scale. From the Third Dynasty, statues were made showing the ruler life-size. This head wearing the crown of Upper Egypt is larger than human scale.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bothmer|first1=Bernard |title=Brief Guide to the Department of Egyptian and Classical Art|date=1974|publisher=Brooklyn Museum|location=Brooklyn, NY|page=22}}</ref>
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