Treasurer (Ancient Egypt)
| Treasurer in hieroglyphics | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Imi-ra-chetemet Jmj-r3-ḫtmt Treasurer |
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The ancient Egyptian title Imi-ra chetemet ("Head of the Seal" or "Head of the Sealed") is usually called treasurer in Egyptology , other translations are "Chancellor" or in English Chancellor . The title has been known in this form since the end of the Old Kingdom (approx. 2300 BC). In the Middle Kingdom (approx. 2000 to 1650 BC) this office became a high state office and was hardly inferior to the vizier in influence .
The treasurer at the royal court monitored the incoming goods and goods stored there, such as food, but also raw materials and finished products. He also presided over the palace workshops. In these functions he also sometimes carried the title “Head of the Treasury”. As the administrator of the royal treasures, the treasurer was also often entrusted with particularly important building projects. Important title holders were z. B. Chety , Meketre or Iychernofret . In the Second Intermediate Period , the office was particularly important at the Hyksos court . It is one of the few Egyptian offices attested there. The office is still well occupied in the New Kingdom , but has lost its importance over time. The functions of the treasurer were increasingly taken over by the "head of the treasure houses". A last important title holder of the 19th dynasty is the treasurer Bay under the kings Seti II and Siptah . The office is also still occasionally attested in the late period. In addition to the treasurers at the royal court, there were also those in private households.
See also
literature
- Pascal Vernus: Observations sur le titre jmj-ra chetemet "Directeur du trésor". In: Schafik Allam (Ed.): Land and soil in ancient Egypt. (Legal and socio-economic conditions) (= studies on legal life in ancient Egypt. Vol. 2). Files of the international symposium Tübingen 18. – 20. June 1990. Allam, Tübingen 1994, ISBN 3-921299-02-0 , pp. 251-260.