The fact that in the United States representatives of the local police are commonly called "pharaohs", we learned back in the distant nineties. Then Hollywood action movies and thrillers were new. The audience literally absorbed every word spoken from the big screen.
Over time, much has changed, but the question of why the police are called “pharaohs” still remains open.
Legacy of Ancient Egypt
There are several versions that can partly shed light on this riddle. One of them is connected with the external appearance of the Egyptian rulers, who have much in common with what the representatives of the law look like today.
Let's see why American police are called "pharaohs." The eastern rulers had high hats, they held the ruler’s rod in their hands, and their bodies occupied a static position.
American cops look about the same. On their heads are raised caps. Instead of scepters, they have rubber batons. Yes, and at the post employees are also motionless.
Divine beginning
The next version, explaining why the police are called pharaohs, is associated with the concept of power. Priests were considered the full lords of their country. They personified the will of the gods, which ordinary inhabitants should obey unquestioningly. They had the mandate of the highest court.
The governors ruled over the disputes and fates of the inhabitants of Egypt. They made decisions about detention, execution and pardon. Judge for yourself, all of the above partially echoes those responsibilities that are placed on the shoulders of current law enforcement defenders in the United States.
Even in the story of Nikolai Nosov, describing the adventures of Dunno on the Moon, “pharaohs” are mentioned - the guardians there.
Oddities of translation
By the way, there is a completely different opinion regarding the topic of why the police are called "pharaohs."
Connoisseurs of the English language believe that North American policemen are so called only thanks to the initiative of translators who were engaged in dubbing the first overseas blockbusters. In the original they are called "cops."
Myths and fallacies
Understanding the problem of why the police are called "pharaohs", it is worth noting that in tsarist Russia, law enforcement officers had nicknames.
The most common are the cops. And all because on the lapels of St. Petersburg policemen wore the image of a hunting dog.
There is an opinion that in the UK police call “bobby”. In fact, this is nothing more than a common stamp used by filmmakers.
Most often, in the English-speaking countries, cops are called "cops." This word comes from the English "cop". The slang name echoes the Russian "cop."