The title of the rulers of ancient Egypt, who combined the roles of king and god. It is used today as a synonym for the king of ancient Egypt. Much expense of labor, money, and treasure was involved in their funeral rites, exemplified by the pyramids and the tombs such as that of Tutankhamen. Each line of kings formed a dynasty, of which there were 31 in all, the peaks of power and development being known as the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms. The term originally and literally meant the 'great house' or house of the king, the royal palace. From the time of the New Kingdom (starting in the 18th dynasty, 1539-1292 BC), the term came to be used for kings of Egypt. Pharaoh was never formally the king's title.