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Why were important people shown larger than other figures in ancient Egyptian art?

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Ancient Egyptian illustration from the Book of the Dead showing Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, with gods seated above and hieroglyphic text throughout. — Egyptian art and architecture Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, c. 1275 bce.

In ancient Egyptian art, the relative size of figures was used to establish their social and political importance within a scene. This artistic convention ensured that the most significant individuals were visually prominent, reflecting the hierarchical nature of Egyptian society.1

For example, the ruler or the tomb owner was depicted as significantly larger than other figures, such as high officials, wives, or children. This practice served to reinforce the status of the primary subject, emphasizing their authority and central role in the depicted event or social order. By using scale to denote rank, Egyptian artists could clearly communicate the power dynamics of their culture, where the king, as the divine mediator, and the elite administrative class held supreme positions over the rest of the population.123