The Double Crown of Ancient Egypt

The double crown, or Pschent, of Egypt is composed from the Red Crown and the White Crown. The double crown showed the Pharaoh's power over all of Egypt.

The double crown bares two emblems of the gods: including the Egyptian Cobra known as Uraeus which symbolized Wadjet's Lower Egypt and the Egyptian Vulture known which represented Nekbet's Upper Egypt.

The double crown was thought to have been invented by the Pharaoh Menes during the early Dynastic Period (3100 - 2686 BCE). Even though Menes is credited with inventing the double crown, the Pharaoh Djet was the first Pharaoh that was recorded wearing the double crown.

Unfortunately, the double crown has not survived through the ages so we do not known the exact materials it was made from, though it was speculated by archeologists that it was either made from cloth or leather. 

The only gods to have worn the double crown were Horus or Atum whom were have though to have a special relationship to the Pharaoh. 

Upper Egypt and the White Crown

Upper Egypt, which is in the south, is divided from Lower Egypt by the Nile River. The northern part of Upper Egypt is also known as Middle Egypt.

The capital of Upper Egypt is Nekhen. Nekhen is also the center of the Ancient Egyptian Cults which is the cult of the Horus of Nekhen. Since the cult of Horus is in Nekhen, it is the center of one of the oldest ancient temples, which kept its importance even after its decline. Nekhen is also the site of Tomb 100, which is the site of the oldest known painted Egyptian Tomb.

Map of Egypt, showing the capital of Upper Egypt; Nekhen

NordNordWest

Painting from Tomb 100

Francesco Raffaelle

Upper Egypt is also connected with the White Crown, or Hedjet. While not much is known about the construction of the white crown, it does appear in many Ancient Egyptian cravings, statues, and even on the Narmer Palette. 

The White Crown

Nekbet is often depicted wearing the white crown since she is the patron goddess of Nekhen and Upper Egypt. The shrine of Nekbet is also the oldest oracle site of Ancient Egypt and it was the original Necropolis or city of the dead. The priestess at the shrine was also referred to as "muu" or mother and wore robes of vulture feathers emulating the goddess Nekbet.

Nekbet wearing the white crown; The Temple of Kom Ombo

Lower Egypt and her Red Crown

Lower Egypt, which is in the north, is divided from Upper Egypt, which is in the south, by the Nile river. 

Map of Ancient Egypt

Jeff Dahl

Lower Egypt was also known as Ta-Mehu or "land of papyrus" and was also divided into twenty districts called nomes. 

Map of Lower Egypt with historical nomes numbered

Jeff Dahl

Lower Egypt was united and was symbolized by the red crown. The red crown is also known as Deshret, and was speculated to be originally made of copper, reeds, cloth, and leather. 

Red Crown

Egyptian kings wore the red crown to symbolize themselves as the successors of Horus, the original ruler over Lower Egypt. Some deities also wore the red crown including Wadjet and Neith. 

Red Crown

The red crown was also paired with the White Crown of Upper Egypt to form the Double Crown which symbolized rule over all of Egypt. 

The side of a Narmer Palette with two serpopards

3000 BCE ±100 years