Dagi (subordinate of the priests)

Dagi in hieroglyphics
Dagi d3gj
Stele of Hetepi, on which Dagi is also mentioned; National Archaeological Museum of Florence

Dagi was an ancient Egyptian dignitary in the First Intermediate Period , around 2100 BC. BC, who probably also acted as local governor in his function as the highest religious authority of his city. The monuments that name him come from Naqada, where the Qus cemetery was located. On the monuments he has received, Dagi bears the titles “only friend” (Semher-wati / Smḥr-w ˁ.tj ) and “subordinate of the priests” (Sehedsch Chemu-Netjer / Sḥḏ Ḥmw-Nṯr ). As the “subordinate of the priests”, Dagi also had secular tasks to perform and was practically the local governor of Qus. The title “ only friend ” was a court rank title that only a small group of selected dignitaries were allowed to wear.

mention

As far as is known, Dagi is occupied by two steles . On the one hand, there is the stela of his father Hetepi , which is now in the National Archaeological Museum in Florence and was bought by Ernesto Schiaparelli from 1884–1885 . On the other hand, Dagi appears on the stele of Hasi, who was the “head of the fabrics of the palace” and, according to the inscription on the stone, served under a “head of the priests” Dagi and his son, the “head of the priests” Djef. However, it is not completely certain that this Dagi is the same person as that of the stele of Hetepi. Nothing else is known about Dagi's person.

Both steles, on which Dagi is mentioned, are gravestones that probably come from Naqada . The Qus cemetery was near Naqada. The stele in Florence comes from the art trade, with the art dealer Dra Abu el-Naga as the place of origin. However, it is very likely that the stele comes from Naqada (incorrect location information is often supplied by art dealers in order not to draw archaeologists' attention to profitable sites). Henry George Fischer has collected all written sources on Qus and the Coptic Gau (in which Qus is located) in a monograph . He was able to assign different steles to the location, although they often have different location information in the museums.

See also

• Ancient Egyptian official and function titles: (Semher-wati / Smḥr-w ˁ.tj )

Individual evidence

1. ^ Eva Martin-Pardey: Investigations into the Egyptian provincial administration up to the end of the Old Kingdom (= Hildesheimer Ägyptologische contributions. Volume 1). Hildesheim 1976, ISBN 3806780080 , pp. 220-221.
2. ^ Henry George Fischer : Inscriptions from the Coptite Nome, Dynasties VI-XI. Rome 1964, p. 61.
3. ^ Henry George Fischer: Inscriptions from the Coptite Nome, Dynasties VI-XI. Rome 1964, pp. 66, 77-80.
4. ↑ Sergio Bosticco: Le stele egiziane dall'antico al nuovo regno. Rome 1959, pp. 18-19, Figure 8, (inventory number 6375).
5. ^ Henry George Fischer: Inscriptions from the Coptite Nome, Dynasties VI-XI. Rome 1964, pp. 65–67, panel XVII (Egyptian Museum Cairo CGC 1649).
6. ^ Henry George Fischer: Inscriptions from the Coptite Nome, Dynasties VI-XI. Rome 1964.