Recognising PharaohÂ
To set himself apart from the rest of Egypt's population, and to display his authority, the king wore special clothing and insignia. He often sports a bull's tail, a symbol of virility, hanging behind his kilt, and a false beard at his chin. Symbols of power, such as the crook and flail, could be held in his hands and he could wear an elaborate crown.
Unlike the rest of Egypt's population, the king also had five names (four given at his coronation plus his birth name); two of these names were placed in cartouches, extended ovals that represented eternity. Although the conventions of Egyptian art restricted the way in which artists could depict their king, there were stylistic changes over time, so that, for example, an 18th Dynasty king can be distinguished from a 12th Dynasty king. This enables scholars to assign an un-inscribed piece to a particular period or reign.