pschent

/skɛnt/

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ψχέντ (pskhént), from Late Egyptian pꜣ-sḫmtj (“the two powerful ones”), from pꜣ (“definite article”) + sḫmtj, dual of sḫmt (“powerful one”), from sḫm (“to be powerful, to have power over”).

Why this word is great

PSCHENT — [Noun] The double crown of ancient Egypt, combining the white crown of Upper Egypt with the red crown of Lower Egypt, worn by pharaohs after the union of the two kingdoms in around 3000 BC. From Ancient Greek ψχέντ (pskhént), from Late Egyptian pꜣ-sḫmtj ("the two powerful ones"), from pꜣ ("definite article") + sḫmtj, dual of sḫmt ("powerful one"), from sḫm ("to be powerful, to have power over"). Unlike "hedjet" (the stark white war-helmet of the south) or "deshret" (the coiled red basket of the delta), the pschent is a marriage of opposites—geography made manifest on a sovereign’s brow. It is the weight of silt and sandstone balanced atop a single head, the glint of gold uniting two riverbanks under one sun, the silent proclamation that division is only ever a prelude to dominion. To wear it was to hold the Nile in place.

noun

  1. The double crown of ancient Egypt, combining the white crown of Upper Egypt with the red crown of Lower Egypt, worn by pharaohs after the union of the two kingdoms in around 3000 BC.“In his left eye flashes the monocle of Cashel Boyle O’Conner Fitzmaurice Tisdall Farrell. On his head is perched an Egyptian pshent. Two quills project over his ears.”