Treasurer (Ancient Egypt)
Encyclopedia
The Treasurer in Ancient Egypt
is the modern translation of the title imi-r ḫtmt (word by word: Overseer of the Seal or overseer of sealed things). The office is known since the end of the Old Kingdom, where people with this title appear sporadically in the organisation of private estates. In the Middle Kingdom the office became one of the most important ones at the royal court. At the end of the 18th Dynasty the title lost its importance, although the famous Bay
had this office. In the later New Kingdom the function of a treasurer was overtaken by the overseer of the treasury.
The treasurer was responsible for products coming to the royal palace. They were the main economical administrator of the royal belongings.
Famous title holders include:
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...
is the modern translation of the title imi-r ḫtmt (word by word: Overseer of the Seal or overseer of sealed things). The office is known since the end of the Old Kingdom, where people with this title appear sporadically in the organisation of private estates. In the Middle Kingdom the office became one of the most important ones at the royal court. At the end of the 18th Dynasty the title lost its importance, although the famous Bay
Chancellor Bay
Chancellor Bay was an important Asiatic official in ancient Egypt, who rose to prominence and high office under Seti II Userkheperure Setepenre and later became an influential powerbroker in the closing stages of the 19th Dynasty. He is generally identified with Irsu Chancellor Bay (died 1192 BC)...
had this office. In the later New Kingdom the function of a treasurer was overtaken by the overseer of the treasury.
The treasurer was responsible for products coming to the royal palace. They were the main economical administrator of the royal belongings.
Famous title holders include:
Middle Kingdom
- BebiBebi (vizier)Bebi was an Egyptian vizier under king Mentuhotep II in the Eleventh Dynasty. He is known only from a relief fragment found in the mortuary temple of the king at Deir el-Bahari. The fragment is now in the British Museum. Bebi might have been the first Middle Kingdom official with that title. His...
, was later appointed vizier, under Mentuhotep II - KhetiKheti (treasurer)Kheti was an Ancient Egyptian treasurer of the Eleventh Dynasty, under king Mentuhotep II. Kheti appears in several sources and was one of the most influential figures at the royal court of the king. He is depicted in two rock reliefs at Shat er-Rigal where he is standing in front of the king. Once...
, under Mentuhotep II - MeketreMeketreThe Ancient Egyptian noble Meketre was chancellor and chief steward during the reign of Mentuhotep II and Mentuhotep III, during the Middle Kingdom...
, under Mentuhotep II and after - Ipi, under Amenemhet I
- RehuerdjersenRehuerdjersenRehuerdjersen was an Ancient Egyptian treasurer who held this office under the 12th dynasty pharaoh Amenemhet I.Rehuerdjersen is mainly known from his tomb at el-Lisht, close to the pyramid of Amenemhet I. His mastaba was heavily damaged, but reliefs with his name and several titles were found...
, under Amenemhet I or later - Sobekhotep, under Senusret I, year 22
- MentuhotepMentuhotep (treasurer)Mentuhotep was an Ancient Egyptian official and treasurer under the 12th dynasty pharaoh Senusret I. Mentuhotep is one of the best attested officials of the Middle Kingdom period. There is a series of statues found at Karnak, showing him as a scribe...
, under Senusret I - Merykau, under Amenemhat I
- SieseSieseSiese was an Ancient Egyptian vizier and treasurer of the Twelfth Dynasty. He was most likely in office under Amenemhat II . Information about Siese is primarily derived from his mastaba excavated by Jacques de Morgan around 1894/95 at Dahshur and rediscovered in 2008 by an Egyptian team...
, under Amenemhat I - SenankhSenankhSenankh was an Ancient Egyptian treasurer during the Twelfth Dynasty, under king Senusret III. Senankh is so far only known from a rock inscription carved on the island of Sehel, south of Aswan. Senankh bears the titles royal sealer, sole friend and leader of works in the whole land. His main title...
, under Senusret III - SobekemhatSobekemhatSobekemhat was an Ancient Egyptian vizier under the king Senusret III in the Twelfth Dynasty. Sobekemhat is only known from his mastaba excavated in 1894 next to the pyramid of Senusret III at Dahshur. The mastaba was decorated on the outside with reliefs. These were only found in small fragments,...
was later appointed vizier, under Senusret III - IykhernofretIykhernofretIyhkernofret was an Ancient Egyptian treasurer of the Twelfth Dynasty, under king Senusret III. On his monuments he bears several important titles, including overseer of the double treasury, overseer of the double gold house, royal sealer and his main title treasurer. Iyhkernofret is known from...
, under Senusret III - SenebsumaiSenebsumaiSenebsumai was an Ancient Egyptian official. He dates to the thirteenth dynasty and he held important administrative offices during the reign of Sobekhotep II that began ca. 1760 BC through the reign of Neferhotep I that ended ca. 1730 BC....
, Thirteenth Dynasty - SenebiSenebiSenebi was an Ancient Egyptian treasurer under the 13th Dynasty kings Neferhotep I and Sobekhotep IV . Senebi belongs to the best attested officials of the 13th Dynasty...
, Thirteenth Dynasty - AmenhotepAmenhotep (treasurer)Amenhotep was an Ancient Egyptian treasurer of the Thirteenth Dynasty . The treasurer was one of the most important officials at the royal court. He is mainly known from his burial found next to the pyramid of king Amenemhet II at Dahshur...
, Thirteenth Dynasty
New Kingdom
- NehsiNehsiNehsi was an official at the court of the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Hatshepsut. He appears to have been of Nubian descent–nehsi meaning He of Nubia–and held a number of important official positions, such as Wearer of the Royal Seal and chief treasurer...
, under HatshepsutHatshepsutHatshepsut also Hatchepsut; meaning Foremost of Noble Ladies;1508–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt... - TayTay (treasurer)Tay was a high official of Ancient Egypt with the main title treasurer. He was in office under Hatshepsut and in the first years of Thutmose III . Tay is known from a rock inscription on Sehel. According to this inscription he was on a military campaign with the queen in Nubia...
, under HatshepsutHatshepsutHatshepsut also Hatchepsut; meaning Foremost of Noble Ladies;1508–1458 BC) was the fifth pharaoh of the eighteenth dynasty of Ancient Egypt... - SenneferiSenneferiThe Ancient Egyptian noble Senneferi was Overseer of the Seal and "Overseer of the Gold-Land of Amun", during the reign of Thutmose III of the 18th dynasty...
- Meryre, under Amenophis III
- Ptahmose, under Amenophis III, after year 30
- BayChancellor BayChancellor Bay was an important Asiatic official in ancient Egypt, who rose to prominence and high office under Seti II Userkheperure Setepenre and later became an influential powerbroker in the closing stages of the 19th Dynasty. He is generally identified with Irsu Chancellor Bay (died 1192 BC)...
, under Seti IISeti IISeti 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...
Literature
- Stephen Quirke: Titles and bureaux of Egypt 1850-1700 BC, London 2004 S. 48-49 ISBN 0-9547218-0-2