This article aims to study the role of the Egyptian high priests with respect to the gods during the Ramesside era. Firstly, it studies how they themselves described their function. It particularly shows the use of the terms jr.t Aḫ.w, nfr(w), mnḫ, and sḥtp. Then, the nature of the “useful things” that high priests were doing is discussed. They consisted of architectural works as well as the good management of the goods and personnel of the god. To verify the words of high priests, the author proposes to address the issue of titles they bore. It shows that the temple operation was more complex and depended on the historical context and importance of the temple itself. Finally, the way in which a perfect pontificate was defined is discussed.
cultic role; high priest; jr.t Aḫ.w; sḥtp; nfr; mnḫ; administration; prosopography; reciprocity.
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