מניין שהיה לפרעה תפילין? שנאמר: ושמת את הנשר ואת הנחש על ראשך, למען ידעו כל מצריים שאתה המושל והשליט : וכל זר לא תלבש בו
Translation: From where do we know that Pharoah wore Tefillin? As it says, and you shall put the eagle and the snake on your head, in order that all of The Egyptians will know that you are the ruler and unmistakable head of state.
Commentary: Had the Rabbis of the Midrash known about the Ureaus, they might have inserted a passage such as the above into the Midrashim. This fictitious passage is meant to emphasize the complete despotic power of the Pharoah. For a deeper understanding of the Ureaus and its historical importance, READ HERE.
Compare the above made-up inscription with a genuine commandment in the Torah:
שמות פרק כט
וְשַׂמְתָּ֥ הַמִּצְנֶ֖פֶת עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וְנָתַתָּ֛ אֶת־נֵ֥זֶר הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ עַל־הַמִּצְנָֽפֶת
וְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־שֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְיָצַקְתָּ֖ עַל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ֖ אֹתֽוֹ
וְאֶת־בָּנָ֖יו תַּקְרִ֑יב וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֖ם כֻּתֳּנֹֽת
תלמוד בבלי מסכת גיטין דף ז עמוד א
בזמן שמצנפת בראש כ”ג – עטרה בראש כל אדם, נסתלקה מצנפת מראש כ”ג – נסתלקה עטרה מראש כל אדם.
Exodus, Chapter 29, 6-8
6. And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head. and put the holy crown upon the mitre. 7. Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, ad anoint him.. 8. And thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.
Talmud Bavli, Gittin, 7a
When the mitre is on the head of the Cohen Gadol, there is a crown on the head of every man. When the mitre is removed from the head of the Cohen Gadol, the crown is removed from the head of every man.
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