Pharaohs from the old kingdom to the New Kingdom ruled with unquestionable authority Pharaohs were obsessed
... While Old Kingdom pharaohs perceived themselves as more godlike, New Kingdom pharaohs actively took part in the management of their empires. Apart from occasional challenges from foreigners and power-hungry priests, and internal dynastic weaknesses, pharaohs ruled with all the status and authority of autocrats. Most pharaohs outlaid extensive amounts of wealth and unknown human resources on their ambitious developments and additionally on their route to immortality. Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom reigned with indisputable authority and more power was invested in the pharaoh in the Old Kingdom than at any later time in Egyptian history. ... While the pharaoh’s power included the responsibility for Ma’at, and all conditions and events in Egypt by the 3rd Dynasty the pharaoh was considered separate from the ordinary people of Egypt. ... at the beginning of the 6th dynasty the power of the ruling pharaohs began to wane corresponding to an increase in the power, status and wealth of the nobility. ... Pharaohs of the Old Kingdom and the New Kingdom poured enormous amounts of their wealth and time into preserving their position for eternity.