King Den's Sandal Label

Power Projection and Propaganda in Ancient Egypt

The podcast delves into the early civilization of ancient Egypt and examines the methods used by their rulers to exercise power and maintain control over a large population. The focus is on King Den, one of Egypt's earliest rulers, and his use of imagery to project power and authority. The object discussed is a tiny label made from ivory, which was attached to the high-status sandals worn by the pharaoh. The labels served as name tags for the afterlife and were intricately inscribed with images of the pharaoh in combat, symbolizing his role as a conqueror. The podcast highlights the significance of these images and their resemblance to contemporary political cartoons, as they effectively conveyed power and authority. The episode explores how rulers like King Den employed propaganda, force, and control to establish law, order, and a sense of Egyptian identity among their subjects.