Eighteenth-century Models of the Good and Bad Ruler on the Example of the Portrayals of Pharaohs Known from the Works of Ancient Authors

Abstract

Already in ancient times the past was treated as a “provider” of human attitude of models that are worthy of imitation and those to be avoided. This attitude towards history can be seen in Poland especially in the eighteenth century textbooks written at the time of the National Education Commission. Their authors focused on a few selected figures of rulers, also Egyptian, in order to build an image of an ideal and adverse ruler of the state.