The High Priest of Ptah was sometimes referred to as "the Greatest of the Directors of Craftsmanship" (wr-ḫrp-ḥmwt). This title refers to
Ptah as the patron
god of the craftsmen.[1]
The office of the high priest of Ptah was located in
Memphis in
Lower Egypt. The temple of Ptah in Memphis was dedicated to Ptah, his consort
Sekhmet and their son
Nefertem.[2]
History
High priests of Ptah are mentioned in inscriptions dating back to at least the
Fourth Dynasty. In the tomb of the nobleman Debhen, for instance, there is a description of a visit by Pharaoh
Menkaure to the construction site for his pyramid "Divine is Menkaure". The pharaoh is accompanied by a naval commander and two high priests of Ptah.[3]
There used to be two high priests of Ptah until the
Sixth Dynasty. It was probably during the reign of
Pepi I Meryre that the two offices were combined into one. In the tomb of Sabu called Thety in
Saqqara, the owner mentions that "His Majesty appointed me as High Priest of Memphis alone. [...] The temple of "Ptah-South-of-His-Wall" in its every place was under my charge, although there never was a single High Priest of Ptah before."[4]
A large temple complex dating to the time of
Ramesses II is located at the modern site of
Mit Rahina. The Temple of Ptah from this time period was one of the largest temple complexes in Egypt. Not much of this complex has been excavated because a large part of the site lies very close to the modern town.[5]
It continued to be an important office in the
Ptolemaic period, and the priestly family held many important priestly positions. The high priests crowned some of the
Ptolemaic monarchs, and they also served as scribes in the dynastic cult of
Arsinoe. The family was speculated to have a blood tie to the Ptolemaic family via a woman named "Berenice", wife of Psenptais II, who was claimed by some modern historians to possibly be a daughter of
Ptolemy VIII.[6] However, this speculation has recently been refuted by Egyptologist Wendy Cheshire.[7][8]
The office appears to have disappeared during
Roman rule of Egypt; it is last attested in 23 BC.[6]
It was common for the high priest to also hold the title of sem priest of
Ptah. The sem priest could be recognized by the fact that he wore a short wig with a side-lock and was dressed in a panther skin.
Hori I Son of Prince Khaemwaset. Became HPM in year 65/66 of the reign of
Ramesses II. He continued to serve under his uncle
Merneptah (Hori may have been High priest from c. 1214 - c. 1203 BCE).[1]
Shedsu-nefertum c. 962-942. End of Dynasty 21, beginning of dynasty 22, including
Shoshenq I Shedsu-nefertum was a son of the High Priest Ankhefensekhmet.[11]
The High Priests of Ptah in Memphis became very important during the
Ptolemaic Period.[12]
Nesisti-Pedubast, son of Anemhor I and Renpet-neferet. Married to Renpet-neferet and Nefersobek. Children included Pedubast, Khonsiu, Amenhor II, Nefertiti and Neferibre.
Pedubast I (High Priest of Ptah), son of Nesisti-Pedubast and Nefersobek.
Amenhor II, son of Nesisti-Pedubast and Nefersobek. Married Herankh. Children include Djedhor, Horemakhet and possibly Horemhotep.
Djedhor son of Amenhor II and Herankh.
Horemakhet (223 BCE) son of Amenhor II and Herankh.
Nesisti (c. 190 BCE), son of Horemakhet and Nefertiti. Succeeded Horemakhet as High Priest of Memphis probably between 194/3 and 180
Pedubast II (High Priest of Ptah), son of Psherenptah and Taimhotep. Grandson of Horemakhet and Nefertiti.
Psherenptah II, son of Pedubast II
Pedubast III (High Priest of Ptah) (103 BCE), son of Psherenptah II and Berenice
Psherenptah III (76 BCE), son of Pedubast III and Herankh-beludje
Imhotep-Pedubast (39 BCE), son of Psherenptah III and Taimhotep
Psherenamun I (30 BCE), brother-in-law of Psherenptah III. Son of Ka-hapi and Her-ankh
Psherenamun II (27 BCE), son of Psherenamun I and Taneferher.
References
^
abcdefghDodson and Hilton, The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt, 2004
^Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, 2000, Thames and Hudson, p. 83
^J.H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Vol I, 2001 (originally 1906), pp. 94-95
^J.H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, Vol I, 2001 (originally 1906), p. 133
^Wilkinson, The Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt, 2000, Thames and Hudson, p. 114-115
^Wendy Cheshire, The Phantom Sister of Ptolemy Alexander, Enchoria, 2011, p. 20-30.
^Lippert, Sandra (2013), "What's New in Demotic Studies? An Overview of the Publications 2010-2013" (PDF), The Journal of Juristic Papyrology: 33–48
^
abDonald B. Redford, The Coregency of Tuthmosis III and Amenophis II, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 51 (Dec., 1965), pp. 107-122
^W. F. Albright, Cuneiform Material for Egyptian Prosopography 1500-1200 B. C., Journal of Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 5, No. 1, Albert Ten Eyck Olmstead Memorial Issue (Jan., 1946), pp. 7-25
^
abcdefghijklmnK.A. Kitchen,The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt, 1100-650 B.C., 1996 ed.