The Double Crown

The Double Crown, also known as the pschent or Two Mighty Ones, symbolized the pharaoh's supremacy of Upper and Lower Egypt. He, the pharaoh, ruled the Two Lands as one, united. With Upper and Lower Egypt unified the red crown and the white crown were often combined to show this event. An early example is a relief of King Sneferu in the 4th Dynasty wearing the pschent. However, just because Egypt was united did not mean that the pharaoh always wore the Double Crown. He still separately wore the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt depending on the occasion. Below is a relief of a pharaoh being symbolically crowned with the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Crown of Lower Egypt

The crown of Lower Egypt is also known as the Red Crown or Deshret. It is shaped similar to a chair with a low front and tall back, from which protrudes a coil. Like the White Crown of Upper Egypt, the Deshret is also depicted on the Narmer Palette but on the reverse side. The Red Crown may very well have originated in Upper Egypt, although it became associated with Lower Egypt. Along with the Narmer Palette the crown is seen on shard from a large vessel dated to late Naqada I from near the town of Nubt/the city of Set. Below is the deity Neith seen wearing the Deshret crown of Lower Egypt.

Crown of Upper Egypt

The crown of Upper Egypt, also known as the White Crown or Hedjet. The Hedjet was a tall white conical headpiece often seen alone or as in a united Egypt together with the Red Crown. Depicted as early as c.3000 BC on the Narmer Palette this crown was the pharaonic symbol of power for Upper Egypt. It was later to be combined with the Red Crown of Lower Egypt. Below is a relief depicting Nebhepetre Mentuhotep II of the 11th Dynasty wearing the white crown of Upper Egypt.