THE Priesthood and Administrartion of Abydos during the Saite Period (based on the Data from Private Monuments)

Abstract

The article deals with the main composition of the Abydos’ elite during the Saite Period (664–525 B.C.). The aim of the article is to analyze the changes in Abydos’ elite after the unification of Egypt under the rule of Psamtik I. The author analyzes the data from private inscriptions, mostly the lists of different positions of the monuments’ owners. The vast majority of private stelae and statues belonged to local priests, associated with cults of the VIII (Thinite) nome of Upper Egypt. The data shows the existence of other sacerdotal ranks and titles that can be regarded as superior or inferior in the sacerdotal hierarchy. However, the exact position of the most common priestly titles cannot be determined due to the lack of data on their specific functions. A small part of private monuments, dating back to the reign of last Saite kings, preserved information about the non-priestly positions of their owners that held different military or administrative offices. The absence of data on any sacerdotal posts of these nobles can be explained by the gradual isolation of priesthood from other social groups of Ancient Egypt. The author suggests that this disproportion between priestly and civil offices reflects the development of the royal administration during the Saite Period. Due to Psamtik I’ policy, local priests retained their power over their nomes in exchange for swearing their loyalty to the Saite king. The emergence of civil offices in private inscriptions of the VI century B.C. denotes the strengthening of royal power.