Officials & Egyptian administration

Administration

Connected to royal court /

military

Many opportunities were created

through foreign expansion

Generally came from the

wealthy class & formed the

elite / nobility

Some individuals held

several positions

Types of administration - hierarchy• Pharaoh• Viziers of Upper & Lower Egypt• Viceroy of Kush• Overseer of the Treasury• High priest of Amen• Overseer of the granaries• Overseer of works for the king• Chief steward• Chamberlain of the royal palace• Scribe of the fields of the Lord of two lands• Mayors …….

Evidence of wealth

• Many officials grew in wealth and status during the 18th dynasty

• Evidence for this development can be found in the increasing size and rich decoration of the tombs of officials.

• The scenes found in official’s tombs represented the positions they held during their lifetime. They may also emphasise the highlights of their career e.g.: serving the king & receiving honours

Vizier Duties

– Chief financial officer in charge of taxation and tribute– Send agents to mayors & district governors– Appoints administrators – North and South– Overall responsibility for building program– Gather reports about activities & harvests– Act as judge in the ‘hall of judgement’ – a judge for all

people – chief judge in legal affairs– Charges collected and paid should be reported to

Vizier

Instructions from Pharaoh to Vizier (Rekhmire):Do justice - Vizier is ‘justices’ true guardian

Priest of Maat – Goddess of truth, balance and order

Gifts & Tribute displayed in Rekhmire’s tomb

Noble – ‘country gentleman’? Country lifestyle was the ideal – spacious, fertile and plentiful – different to urban life

Viceroy of Kush

• Governed whole of Nubia. This was divided into two regions – each ruled by a deputy:– Wawat (Lower Nubia – East of Nile)– Kush (Upper Nubia)

• They controlled the Nubian forts, the military, collection of taxes and the building of temples.

• Less evidence for imperial administration in Syria-Palestine as it was administered by garrison commanders and local vassal princes.

PAHERI – Provincial governor

• Direct descendant of Ahmose, Son of Ebana

• Nomarch of Nekheb – capital city of one of Upper Egypt’s most southern nomes (administrative centres)

Official activities - Paheri

• Similar duties to vizier but on a reduced scale• Inspection of agricultural activities • Weighing and receipt of gold from the mines

of the Eastern desert (Nekheb) & its transportation to Thebes

• Collection of taxes & overseer of justice• Overseer of local cults e.g.: priests of Nekhbet

(patron goddess of Nekheb)

Example: Mayor of Thebes

Example: Mayor of Thebes

• One of the highest ranking members of the provincial administration.

• He worked with the southern vizier to oversee the building projects at Thebes.

• Duties:– Supervision of the workers village - Deir El-Medina– Organise the great religious festivals of the year

Sennefer – Mayor of Thebes

• Under Amenhotep II – mayor was Sennefer. His brother Amenemopet was Vizier ;)

• Both ended up buried in the Valley of the Kings!

Religious Officials

Religious administration

• Headed by chief priest (First Prophet) of Amun. Chief overseer of all other religious cults.

• Hapuseneb (Hatshepsut) – also vizier• Other officials included Second Prophet and

Stewards of the Gods. They were responsible for administering the finances and estates of the various cults.

• Senenmut (Hatshepsut) – Chief Steward of Amun