What kind of ruler did the head of gold in Nebuchadnezzar's dream represent?
The head of gold represented an absolute dictator—a government of one. He was under God, yet he did not have to consult with anybody. This symbolized a single ruler with centralized authority rather than a shared or divided rule.
Les explains that the head of gold was an absolute ruler under God, a government of one who did not have to consult with anybody. He contrasts this with the next kingdom, the Mede and Persian Empire, which defeated Babylon. That empire had two kings, Darius and Cyrus, so before any military, economic, or political move they had to agree. Les notes it is harder to get two people to agree than one.