The High Priest of Amun or First Prophet of Amun (hem netjer en tepy) was the highest ranking priest in the priesthood of the Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt

Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...

ian god Amun

Amun

Amun, reconstructed Egyptian Yamānu , was a god in Egyptian mythology who in the form of Amun-Ra became the focus of the most complex system of theology in Ancient Egypt...

. The first high priests of Amun appear in the new kingdom, at the beginning of the Eighteenth Dynasty.

The priesthood of Amun rose in power during the early Eighteenth dynasty through significant tributes to the god Amun by ruler such as Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut

Hatshepsut also Hatchepsut; meaning Foremost of Noble Ladies;1508–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt...

 and more importantly Thutmose III

Thutmose III

Thutmose III was the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. During the first twenty-two years of Thutmose's reign he was co-regent with his stepmother, Hatshepsut, who was named the pharaoh...

. The Amun priesthood in Thebes had four high ranking priests:

• The high priest of Amun at Karnak (hm netjer tepy en Amun), also referred to as the first prophet of Amun.
• The second priest of Amun at Karnak (hm netjer sen-nu en Amun), also referred to as the second prophet of Amun.
• The third priest of Amun at Karnak (hm netjer khemet-nu en Amun), also referred to as the third prophet of Amun.
• The fourth priest of Amun at Karnak (hm netjer fed-nu en Amun), also referred to as the fourth prophet of Amun.

The power of the Amun priesthood was temporarily curtailed during the Amarna period. A high priest named Maya is recorded in year 4 of Akhenaten. Akhenaten

Akhenaten

Akhenaten also spelled Echnaton,Ikhnaton,and Khuenaten;meaning "living spirit of Aten") known before the fifth year of his reign as Amenhotep IV , was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt who ruled for 17 years and died perhaps in 1336 BC or 1334 BC...

 has the name of Amun removed from monuments during his reign (as well as the names of several other deities). After Akhenaten

Akhenaten

Akhenaten also spelled Echnaton,Ikhnaton,and Khuenaten;meaning "living spirit of Aten") known before the fifth year of his reign as Amenhotep IV , was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt who ruled for 17 years and died perhaps in 1336 BC or 1334 BC...

's death Amun is restored to his place of prominence among the cults in Egypt. The young pharaoh Tutankhaten changes his name to Tutankhamen to signal the restoration of the old god to his former place of prominence.

The High Priest of Amun in Thebes was appointed by the King. It was not uncommon for the position to be held by dignitaries who held additional posts in the pharaoh's administration. Several of the high priests from the time of Ramesses II

Ramesses II

Ramesses II , referred to as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire...

 also served as Vizier.

At the end of the New Kingdom, the 20th dynasty priesthood of Amun is for a large part dominated by Ramessesnakht. His son Amenhotep eventually succeeded his father and found himself in conflict with the Vicreoy of Kush, Panehesy. Panehesy took his troops North and besieged Thebes. After this period generals by the name of Herihor and Pianchi served as High Priest.

By the time Herihor was proclaimed as the first ruling High Priest of Amun in 1080 BC—in the 19th Year of Ramesses XI

Ramesses XI

Ramesses XI reigned from 1107 BC to 1078 BC or 1077 BC and was the tenth and final king of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. He ruled Egypt for at least 29 years although some Egyptologists think he could have ruled for as long as 30...

--the Amun priesthood exercised an effective stranglehold on Egypt's economy. The Amun priests owned two-thirds of all the temple lands in Egypt and 90 percent of her ships plus many other resources. Consequently, the Amun priests were as powerful as Pharaoh, if not more so. The High Priests of Amun at Thebes from the 21st dynasty were of such power and influence that they were effectively the rulers of Upper Egypt from 1080 to c.943 BC. They are however not regarded as a ruling dynasty with pharaonic prerogatives, and after this period the influence of the Amun priesthood declined. One of the sons of the High Priest, Pinedjem I, would eventually assume the throne and rule Egypt for almost half-a-decade as pharaoh Psusennes I

Psusennes I

Psusennes I, or Greek Ψουσέννης], Pasibkhanu or Hor-Pasebakhaenniut I Egyptian ḥor-p3-sib3-ḫˁỉ--niwt] was the third king of the Twenty-first dynasty of Egypt who ruled from Tanis between 1047 – 1001 BC...

 while the Theban High Priest Psusennes III would take the throne as king Psusennes II

Psusennes II

Titkheperure or Tyetkheperre Psusennes II Greek Ψουσέννης] or Hor-Pasebakhaenniut II Egyptian ḥr-p3-sb3-ḫˁỉ--nỉwt], was the last king of the Twenty-first dynasty of Egypt. His royal name means "Image of the transformation of Re" in Egyptian. Psusennes II is often considered the same person as...

--the final ruler of the 21st Dynasty.

New Kingdom

High Priest of Amun

High Priests	|Pharaoh	|Dynasty
Thuty Thuty (High Priest of Amun) Thuty was a High Priest of Amun from the time of Ahmose I .Thuty is known from a funerary cone in the Metropolitan Museum. The cone is inscribed for "The First Prophet of Amun and Overseer of Treasurers, Thuty." The funerary cones make mention of "The good God Neb-pehty-Re" ....   Minmontu Minmontu Minmontu was a High Priest of Amun from the time of Ahmose I .Minmontu is known from a funerary cone from Thebes, now at University College London ....	Ahmose I Ahmose I Ahmose I was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the founder of the Eighteenth dynasty. He was a member of the Theban royal house, the son of pharaoh Tao II Seqenenre and brother of the last pharaoh of the Seventeenth dynasty, King Kamose...	18th Dynasty Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
Hapuseneb Hapuseneb Hapuseneb was the High Priest of Amun during the reign of Hatshepsut. His mother, Ah-hotep, was a member of the royal harem; the name of the mother has survived on a piece of limestone found in the temple of Thutmosis III at Qurna . His father, Hapu, was Lecture Priest of Amun. His brother,...	Hatshepsut Hatshepsut Hatshepsut also Hatchepsut; meaning Foremost of Noble Ladies;1508–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt...	18th Dynasty Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
Menkheperraseneb I Menkheperraseneb I Menkheperraseneb I was High Priest of Amun during the reign of Thutmose III. Menkheperraseneb was possibly the uncle of Menkheperreseneb II. It was assumed up until recently that there was one High Priest of Amun with the name of Menkheperraseneb. It was assumed that this individual had two Theban...   Menkheperreseneb II Menkheperreseneb II Menkheperreseneb II was a High Priest of Amun, Superintendent of the Gold and silver treasuries, and Chief of the Overseers of Craftsmen. He served at the time of Thutmose III and may have been buried in TT112....	Thutmose III Thutmose III Thutmose III was the sixth Pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. During the first twenty-two years of Thutmose's reign he was co-regent with his stepmother, Hatshepsut, who was named the pharaoh...	18th Dynasty Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
Amenemhat Amenemhat (High Priest of Amun) Amenemhat was a High Priest of Amun from the time of Amenhotep II.He was probably buried in TT97 in Qurna . Amenemhat was the son of the wab-priest and Overseer of the sandal makers of Amun Djehutyhotep. A funerary cone exists in the collection of University College, London: UC 37551...   Mery Mery (High Priest of Amun) Mery was a High Priest of Amun from the time of Amenhotep II .Mery was the son of the First prophet of Min of Koptos, named Nebpehtire. His mother was Hunayt, a Chief nurse of the Lord of the Two Lands...	Amenhotep II Amenhotep II Amenhotep II was the seventh Pharaoh of the 18th dynasty of Egypt. Amenhotep inherited a vast kingdom from his father Thutmose III, and held it by means of a few military campaigns in Syria; however, he fought much less than his father, and his reign saw the effective cessation of hostilities...	18th Dynasty Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
Ptahmose Ptahmose (vizier) Ptahmose was a High Priest of Amun and Vizier of southern Egypt-, under Amenhotep III . Certain historians place him at the end of the reign in 1378 BC...   Meryptah Meryptah Meryptah was a High Priest of Amun during the time of Amenhotep III.He is known from a statue mentioning Meryptah with Anen, Amenemhat and Si-Mut who were a 2nd, 3rd and 4th prophet respectively. Aldred conjectures that Meryptah succeeded Ptahmose and served until the end of the reign of Amenhotep...	Amenhotep III Amenhotep III Amenhotep III also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent was the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty. According to different authors, he ruled Egypt from June 1386 to 1349 BC or June 1388 BC to December 1351 BC/1350 BC after his father Thutmose IV died...	18th Dynasty Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
Maya Maya (High Priest of Amun) Maya was a High Priest of Amun until at least year 4 of Akhenaten. Redford speculates that Maya is short for Ptahmose and that Ptahmose served from the end of the reign of Amenhotep III until the beginning of the time of Akhenaten....	Akhenaten Akhenaten Akhenaten also spelled Echnaton,Ikhnaton,and Khuenaten;meaning "living spirit of Aten") known before the fifth year of his reign as Amenhotep IV , was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt who ruled for 17 years and died perhaps in 1336 BC or 1334 BC...	18th Dynasty Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
Parennefer called Wennefer Parennefer called Wennefer Parennefer also called Wennefer was a High Priest of Amun during the reigns of Tutankhamen and Horemheb . He was previously thought to date to the time of Ramesses II, but he is now dated to the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty...	Tutankhamen  Horemheb Horemheb Horemheb was the last Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty from either 1319 BC to late 1292 BC, or 1306 to late 1292 BC although he was not related to the preceding royal family and is believed to have been of common birth.Before he became pharaoh, Horemheb was the commander in chief...	18th Dynasty Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt The eighteenth dynasty of ancient Egypt is perhaps the best known of all the dynasties of ancient Egypt...
Nebneteru Tenry Nebneteru Tenry Nebneteru Tenry was a High Priest of Amun under Sety I.Nebneteru's wife Merytre was Chief of the Harem of Amun. Nebneteru and Merytre are known from monuments of their son, the vizier Paser...	Sety I	19th Dynasty Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt The Nineteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt was one of the periods of the Egyptian New Kingdom. Founded by Vizier Ramesses I, whom Pharaoh Horemheb chose as his successor to the throne, this dynasty is best known for its military conquests in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.The warrior kings of the...
Nebwenenef Nebwenenef Nebwenenef was High Priest of Amun at the beginning of the reign of Ramesses II during the 19th Dynasty. Prior to that, Nebwenenef had served as High Priest of Anhur and High Priest of Hathor during the reign of Seti I and maybe even earlier.-Titles:...   Hori Paser Paser (Vizier) The Ancient Egyptian Noble Paser was Vizier, in the reigns of Seti I and Ramesses II, during the 19th dynasty. He would later also become High Priest of Amun.-Family:...   Bakenkhonsu Bakenkhonsu Bakenkhonsu , or for the Ba , , was a High Priest of Amun in ancient Egypt during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Information about his life was found on the back of his statue...	Ramesses II Ramesses II Ramesses II , referred to as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire...	19th Dynasty Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt The Nineteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt was one of the periods of the Egyptian New Kingdom. Founded by Vizier Ramesses I, whom Pharaoh Horemheb chose as his successor to the throne, this dynasty is best known for its military conquests in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.The warrior kings of the...
Roma-Rui Roma called Roy Roma called Roy was High Priest of Amun at the end of the reign of Ramesses II and continued into the reigns of Merenptah and likely Seti II. Roma served as third and second priest of Amun and finally as first prophet of Amun...	Ramesses II Ramesses II Ramesses II , referred to as Ramesses the Great, was the third Egyptian pharaoh of the Nineteenth dynasty. He is often regarded as the greatest, most celebrated, and most powerful pharaoh of the Egyptian Empire... , Merenptah and Seti II Seti II Seti II , was the fifth ruler of the Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt and reigned from 1203 BC to 1197 BC. His throne name, Userkheperure Setepenre, meant "Powerful are the Manifestations of Re, Chosen by Re.' He was the son of Merneptah and wife Isisnofret and sat on the throne during a...	19th Dynasty Nineteenth dynasty of Egypt The Nineteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt was one of the periods of the Egyptian New Kingdom. Founded by Vizier Ramesses I, whom Pharaoh Horemheb chose as his successor to the throne, this dynasty is best known for its military conquests in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria.The warrior kings of the...
Bakenkhons II	Sethnakht Sethnakht Sethnakht was a name used in Egyptian royalty including* In the 19th dynasty, a son of Ramesses II and Isisnofret* First pharaoh of the 20th Dynasty and father of Ramesses III...   Ramesses III Ramesses III Usimare Ramesses III was the second Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty and is considered to be the last great New Kingdom king to wield any substantial authority over Egypt. He was the son of Setnakhte and Queen Tiy-Merenese. Ramesses III is believed to have reigned from March 1186 to April 1155 BCE...	20th Dynasty Twentieth dynasty of Egypt The Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title, New Kingdom. This dynasty is considered to be the last one of the New Kingdom of Egypt, and was followed by the Third Intermediate Period....
Ramessesnakht	Ramesses IV Ramesses IV Heqamaatre Ramesses IV was the third pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of the New Kingdom of Ancient Egypt. His name prior to assuming the crown was Amonhirkhopshef...  - Ramesses IX Ramesses IX Ramesses IX was the eighth king of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. He was the third longest serving king of this Dynasty after Ramesses III and Ramesses XI...	20th Dynasty Twentieth dynasty of Egypt The Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title, New Kingdom. This dynasty is considered to be the last one of the New Kingdom of Egypt, and was followed by the Third Intermediate Period....
Amenhotep Amenhotep (High Priest of Amun) Amenhotep was High Priest of Amun at the end of the 20th Dynasty. He served under Ramesses IX-Ramesses XI.Amenhotep also held the tiles: vizier, great confidante of his master, first prophet of Amun-resonther....	Ramses IX - XI Ramesses XI Ramesses XI reigned from 1107 BC to 1078 BC or 1077 BC and was the tenth and final king of the Twentieth dynasty of Egypt. He ruled Egypt for at least 29 years although some Egyptologists think he could have ruled for as long as 30...	20th Dynasty Twentieth dynasty of Egypt The Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title, New Kingdom. This dynasty is considered to be the last one of the New Kingdom of Egypt, and was followed by the Third Intermediate Period....

21st dynasty and later

• Theban High Priests of Amun (21st and 22nd Dynasty)
• Twenty-first dynasty of Egypt Family Tree
  Twenty-first dynasty of Egypt Family Tree
  The family tree of the Twenty-first dynasty of Egypt was heavily interconnected with the family of the High Priests of Amun at Thebes. Later the Twenty-second and Twenty-third dynasties were also related by marriage to these families. Tanite King...
  
  
• Twenty-first dynasty of Egypt
  Twenty-first dynasty of Egypt
  The Twenty-First, Twenty-Second, Twenty-Third, Twenty-Fourth, and Twenty-Fifth Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title, Third Intermediate Period.-Rulers:...
  
  

25th Dynasty

• Haremakhet, Son of Shabaka 704?-660 BC
• Harkhebi, Son of Haremakhet, Grand-son of Shabaka. Served as HPA until at least year 14 of Psamtik I. 660-644 BC

[ 2 unattested HPA or vacant? 644-595]

• Ankhnesneferibre
  Ankhnesneferibre
  Ankhnesneferibre held the office of Divine Adoratrice of Amun during the 26th Dynasty of Egypt from around 586 to 525 BC...
  
  , The God's Wife of Amun also served as High Priest of Amun. 595-560 BC
• Nitokris II, Daughter of Pharaoh Ahmose (II). 560-550?