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Khepresh facts for kids

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Not to be confused with Khopesh.
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Khepresh
Blue crown.svg
Khepresh, the blue crown of Egypt
Details
Country Ancient Egypt

The khepresh (pronounced "kep-resh") was a special royal hat worn by kings, called pharaohs, in Ancient Egypt. People also called it the blue crown or sometimes the war crown. Pharaohs from the New Kingdom often wore this crown. You can see them wearing it in pictures when they were in battle or during important ceremonies. Even though it was once called the war crown, many historians today think it was used for more than just fighting.

The Khepresh: Ancient Egypt's Blue Crown

What Was the Khepresh?

We haven't found any real khepresh crowns yet. But from old drawings and statues, experts think it might have been made from leather or stiff cloth. It was probably covered with many small, shiny pieces like sequins or rings. Other Egyptian crowns, like the red and white crowns, were made from plant fibers. So, the circles on the khepresh might show a special way of weaving. A small cobra ornament, called a uraeus, was always attached to the front of the khepresh.

A Look at Its History

The Blue Crown, or War Crown, was represented in hieroglyphs.

Early Appearances

Pharaoh with Blue crown
A modern drawing of a pharaoh with a blue crown

The khepresh crown first appeared a very long time ago, during a period called the Second Intermediate Period. One of the earliest mentions of it is on a stone tablet from the time of Neferhotep III. In these early writings, the word for khepresh was shown with a symbol for a simpler, lower crown.

The very first picture we have of someone wearing the khepresh is on another stone tablet. This tablet shows a pharaoh named Snaaib wearing the crown while honoring the god Min.

The New Kingdom Era

During the New Kingdom, the khepresh became very popular. Pharaohs were often shown wearing it when they were leading their armies. Some experts believe the crown also showed the pharaoh's special connection to the gods. This meant wearing it helped people see the pharaoh as a living god on Earth.

Early pictures of the khepresh from the time of Ahmose I, the first king of the Eighteenth Dynasty, show it looking taller and more pointed. The crown changed over time, becoming its most famous shape during the reigns of Hatshepsut and Thutmose III. After Amenhotep III's rule, especially during the 18th and 19th Dynasties, many pharaohs chose the khepresh as their main crown.

Later Years of the Crown

After the New Kingdom, the khepresh crown was not seen for a while. It disappeared during the Kushite Dynasty. However, pictures of the crown returned during the Twenty-sixth Dynasty of Egypt. Even some kings from the Ptolemaic period and early Roman pharaohs were shown wearing this ancient blue crown.

Gallery of Pharaohs Wearing the Khepresh

Discover More About Egyptian Crowns

  • Atef – A crown with feathers, linked to the god Osiris.
  • Deshret – The red crown, representing Lower Egypt.
  • Hedjet – The white crown, representing Upper Egypt.
  • Nemes - A striped head-dress often worn by pharaohs.
  • Pschent – The double crown, combining the red and white crowns for both Lower and Upper Egypt.
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