Interesting Facts

• Oswiris was the son of Anom and the king of Egypt.
• It was his custom to depart from his royal palace and be seen abroad only one day in the year.
• On the day he appeared, he would pass judgment in the land, and those with legal suits would come before him.
• He was initially unaware of Rikayon’s imposition of a death tax and became very angry upon learning of it.
• Oswiris was greatly pleased and wondered at the riches and wisdom of Rikayon, ultimately renaming him Pharaoh and making him a prefect.

Genealogy

• The source explicitly states that Oswiris was the son of Anom.
• No other information regarding his ancestry, birth, marital connections, or offspring is provided in the sources.

Historical Context

The reign of Oswiris in Egypt is depicted as a period with a unique custom regarding the king’s public appearances. This practice, where the king was only seen abroad one day a year to administer justice, created a specific power dynamic and potentially a void in daily governance. This unusual system allowed for individuals like Rikayon to exploit the situation . The Egyptians during this time held a tradition of kings taking yearly taxes from the living but were greatly disturbed by the imposition of a tax on the dead, indicating their established customs and expectations from their rulers. The eventual acceptance and love for Rikayon (Pharaoh) by the inhabitants of Egypt and their subsequent decision to call all future kings Pharaoh suggest a society that could be influenced by demonstrations of wealth and perceived wisdom, and willing to adopt new customs even if they arose from controversial circumstances.

Narrative

Oswiris begins his narrative as the established king of Egypt with an unusual royal custom. His practice of only appearing publicly once a year to judge the land and hear petitions sets the stage for Rikayon’s entrance. When the Egyptians, distressed by Rikayon’s death tax, finally gain access to Oswiris on his appointed day, he expresses great anger and surprise at the events that transpired without his knowledge. This indicates a degree of detachment from the daily affairs of his kingdom due to his self-imposed seclusion . However, Oswiris’s reaction shifts dramatically upon encountering Rikayon . He is impressed by the lavish tribute presented by Rikayon, including the thousand children and the valuable gifts, and further by Rikayon’s wise words . This admiration leads Oswiris to not only pardon Rikayon but to bestow upon him a new name, Pharaoh, and appoint him as a prefect under his rule . The narrative reveals that Oswiris, despite his initial authority, willingly ceded a significant portion of governance to Rikayon, who then administered justice daily while Oswiris maintained his annual appearance . Ultimately, Oswiris’s decision to elevate Rikayon had a lasting impact, as the title Pharaoh became the standard for all subsequent Egyptian kings, suggesting that Oswiris’s reign, particularly his interaction with Rikayon, marked a significant turning point in Egyptian history as portrayed in the source .