Serving the Mendesian Ram in Memphis for Generations
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Nenad Marković
Summary
The aim of this paper is to reconstruct and analyse the genealogical tree of a hitherto unknown temple family that was active in the Memphite area during the 26th (Saitic) and 27th (Achaemenid) Dynasties. By studying and comparing the inscriptional evidence available in the vast epigraphic corpus from the Memphite Serapeum, which in fact is the richest source of information for both regional and local family networks, we can obtain valuable insights into six successive generations of this family, spanning from the mid-seventh to the early fifth centuries BC. Although the eastern Nile Delta was the main cultic hub for worship of Banebdjed, all documented members of this family fulfilled different roles in serving Ptah, Sokar, and Banebdjed in Memphis. The hereditary nature of these positions persisted through multiple generations, whereas the family’s position and status appear to remain intact into the late reign of Darius I, the second Persian king of Egypt, at which point the available source material ceases. Ultimately, various family members formed marital unions within their temple community by marrying the daughters and sons of other local temple officials, while carefully adhering to the preexisting familial onomastic traditions.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Titelseiten
- Irmtraut Munro
- Instruments of Crime in Tomb Robbery Papyri
- The Unveiled Man
- CT 335 on the Head Side of Inner Coffin A7A From Qubbet el-Hawa (QH31/15/S5/UE21/30)
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- A Liturgical Ostracon From the Burial Shaft of Wahibremeryneith at Abusir
- A Mysterious Papyrus of the Roman Period from Athribis (Papyrus SH 389)
- Serving the Mendesian Ram in Memphis for Generations
- Le cercueil de Padiousir fils de Pahep
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