High Priests of Amon
1080 - 775
( Thebes )

      By the end of reign of the last Ramesses the rule all over the land was held actually by its vizier and viceroy of Nubia, the first prophet of Amon – Herhor. His rule inaugurates dynasty of high priests of Amon, reigning at Thebes. At the same time at Tanis and Busiris reigns dynasty XXI founded by Smendes, replaced later by Libyan dynasty XXII founded by Sheshonq. Some of the high priests hold rule all over Egypt or at least endeavor to show their right to rule by adopting full royal titulary. Others seem to be satisfied with their function of high priests and remain fully loyal to the kings reigning in the North, to whom they often are closely related.
      The period between IX and VIII century BC is object of numerous discussions of scholars and experts in the subject. Two undeniable authorities, K.A. Kitchen and D.A. Aston represent two different standpoints both as to dating, sequence and genealogy of respective high priests as well as related to them rulers of dynasties XXII and XXIII. It seems that in the light of recent examinations, based on a few and not very convincing sources, answering all questions concerning that so scarcely understood period, remains impossible. Any archaeological discovery throwing some light onto dark shades overlying events of those ages might change diametrically hypotheses proposed by historians of the III Intermediate Period.

1080 - 1074

Herhor

Hm-nTr- tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw-imi-ramSa wr n Smaw mHw HAwti Hri-Hr

• Hr kA nxt sA-imn

• sHtp-nTrw , swab-bnbn-mH-sw-m-mnw , sHb-wAst-m-mnw-wrw-xpS-anx-tAwi

• iri-Axw(t)-m-ipt-swt-n-it=f-imn , iri-mAat-m-xt-tAwi

• Hm-nTr tpi-n-imn

• Hri-Hr (sA-imn)

 Hem Netjer Tepi-en-Amon (The First Prophet of Amon)

 Herhor Siamon (Horus Protects Me, Son of Amon)

       First Prophet of Amen, then ruler of the Upper Egipt. His antecedents remain largely unknown, generally it is accepted that he originated from Libyan family of officers. It is also assumed that he was father-in-law of high priest Piankhi (Herhor’s daughter:  Hereret), although most recently contradictory opinion of K. Jansen-Winkeln is prevailing that Piankhi was Herhor’s father-in-law and father of his wife Nedjemet. Thus their sequence of rule would be reverse – it would be Piankhi and not Herhor who made campaigns against rebelling viceroy of Kush Panehesi. A. Niwinski does not share this view and ascribes those events to Herhor. Whatever is the truth, some light may be shed by archaeological excavations carried out at Deir el-Bahari by Polish-Egyptian group under direction of Prof. A. Niwinski. The Rocky Mission has very well defined goal: discovery of Herhor’s tomb, located presumably at a rock shelf 100 m above lower terrace of the Temple of Hatshepsut. In year 19 of Ramesses XI rule Herhor acquired a title of vizier and viceroy of Nubia, later he took command over army and short thereafter actual rule over Egypt. After Ramesses death he proclaimed himself king of Egypt, the event confirmed by Oracle of Chonsu and Amen. In “ The Story of Wenamen”, dated back to dynasty XXII are mentioned events of the year 5 of Herhor’s rule, Wenamen’s journey to get wood to make barge of Amen.

1074 - 1070

Piankhi

TAj-xw (Hr) wnm-nsw sS-nsw imi-rA-mSa sA nsw n kAS imi-rA-xAswt-rswt Hm-nTr tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw imi-rA-Snwt n pr-aA ... HAwti pAi-anx n pDwt pr-a

 Piankhi

       Presumably son-in-law of Herhor and his heir to the Theban throne of high priests of Amen or, according to K. Jansen-Winkeln, Herhor’s father-in-law and his predecessor in fight with Panehesi, the viceroy of Kush, whom he finally conquered and thus became actual ruler of the Upper Egypt in times of Ramesses XI reign. Piankhi’s wife was Hereret, presumably daughter of Herhor, and his son was Pinedjem I.

1070 - 1032

Pinedjem I

imi-ra-niwt TAti Hm-nTr tpi n imn-ra0nsw-nTrw imi-ra-mSa wr n tA r-Dr.f HAwti pA-nDm

• Hr kA nxt mri-imn , kA nxt xai-m-wAst

• ... ...

• ... ...

• xpr-xaw-ra (stp.n-imn)

• pAi-nDm (mri-imn)

 Kheperkhawre Setepenamon (The Soul of Re Appears, Chosen of Amon)

 Pinedjem Meriamon (He who Belongs to the Pleasant One, Beloved of Amon)

       Son of high priest Pinedjem by Hereret. He was father of high priests Djedchonsuefankh, Masuharte and Psusennes I. After Ramesses XI death he made agreement with his father-in-law Smendes I who, after Pinedjem’s acceptation, coexisted as ruler in the North. Since year 1054 as de facto ruler of the whole Egypt he passed the office of high priest to his sons. A few relics of this period of time allow conclude that there was opposition against Pinedjem and his sons who held the most important functions in the Land. Heads of opposition had been finally deported to Charga Oasis in 1045. Under his reign royal mummies had been concealed in the DB320 cache at Deir el-Bahari and also buried Herhor’s wife – Nedjemet. Moreover, Pinedjem took care of tombs of other New Kingdom rulers.

      The eldest son of Pinedjem I and Isetemkheb II, appointed by his father in 16 year of rule, High Priest at Thebes while Pinedjem I himself held a rule all over Egypt as pharaoh. Masuharte died before his father. The High Priest’s mummy was discovered in the DB320 cache at Deir el-Bahari.

1045

D¿edkhonsuefankh

      High Priest of Amon whose name (Khonsu speaks and he lives) was mentioned on now lost coffin. He was supposed to be son of Pinedjem I.

1049 - 992

Menkheperre

Mh-nTr tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw imi-rA-mSa wr mn-xpr-ra

• ... ...

• ... ...

• ... ...

• Hm-nr tpi n imn

• mn-xpr-ra

 Hem Netjer Tepi-en-Amon (The First Prophet of Amon)

 Menkheperre (Lasting is the Manifestation of Re)

      Second son of Pinedjem I. Father of Smendes II and Pinedjem. Under his reign, similarly as under Pinedjem I, the royal mummies had been moved and protected in the cache at Western Thebes. Probably during long-lasting rule of Menkheperre a rebel, suppressed ruthlessly by the high priest, broke out in the Upper Egypt - leaders of the rebel were expelled to the Oasis Kharga.

       Eldest son of Mencheperre and Isetemcheb III, brother of Pinedjem II. Due to short duration of his rule there are very scanty relics dated to that period of time – decree in the pylon 10 of the Temple of Karnak and stone table at courtyard in front of that pylon.

990 - 969

Pinedjem II

Hm-nTr tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw imi-rA-mSa wr HAwti pAi-nDm

 Pinedjem (He who Belongs to the Pleasant One)

      Identity of this ruler still remains questionable for historians. There is an opinion, shared by J. Beckerath, that Psusennes III and Psusennes II, the last ruler of dynasty XXI, are one and the same person. It is possible that Psusennes, who was high priest at Thebes and local ruler in the Abydos area, expanded his influence as far as to Delta ca 959 BC, adopting also royal titulary. In hieratic graffiti from temple of Ptah at Abydos he is named the king of the Upper and Lower Egypt, high priest of Amen-Re and commander of army. One of his daughters, Tanetsepeh, was wife of Shedsunefertum, the high priest of Ptah at Memphis, second one – Maatkare was married to Osorkon I.

924 - 894

Szeszonk (II)

Hm-nTr tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw imi-rA-mSa wr HAwti SSnq , Hm-nTr tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw-nb(w)-n-Smaw-mHw HAwti SSnq mri-imn

      Son of Osorkon I by Maatkare, daughter of Psusennes II. Step-brother of Takelot I and high priests: Iuwlot and Smendes. In 924 he was made by his father the high priest of Amon at Thebes and short before his death – nominated the coregent and since then his name was inscribed in royal cartouche with all titles due to the king of Lower and Upper Egypt. However Sheshonq died unexpectedly and was succeeded by his step-brother, Takelot I. Sheshonq was the father of high priest Harsiese. He was buried in the antechamber of the Psusennes I tomb. His rich funerary equipment consists of gold funerary mask, silver sarcophagus, pectorals, amulets and other precious objects.

884 - 874

Smendes (III)

Hm-nTr tpi n imn imi-ramSA wr n Smaw-mHw HAwti ni-sw-bA-nb-Dd(t)

      Son of Osorkon I, step brother of his predecessors: Iuwlot and Sheshonq. He is disclosed by indexes of the Nile level at Karnak, dated to the times of Takelot II.

874 - 860

Horsiese I

Hm-nTr tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw Hr-sA-Ast

• Hr kA-nxt xai-m-wAst

• ... ...

• ... ...

• HD-xpr-ra (stp.n-ra)

• Hr-sA-Ast (mri-imn)

 Hed¿cheperre Setepenamon (¦wietlisty jest Przejaw Re, Wybraniec Amona)

 Horsiese Meriamon (Horus, SynIzydy, Umi³owany przez Amona)

       Son of Sheshonq II. Osorkon II appointed him to the post of high priest of Amon at Thebes. Regarded as usurper because announced himself the pharaoh of Egypt under the reign of Libyan dynasty XXII and was supported by highly ranked Theban clans. Being de facto ruler of Egypt, Horsiese placed his son on the Theban throne as high priest of Amon. Horsiese’s tomb is located in the temple complex at Medinet Habu. On his burial place only canopies, ushebti and skull of Horsiese with partly cicatrized hole at the head, which may be due to either trepanation or injury caused by weapon, have been preserved.

... dju ...

Hm-nTr tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw ...-di aw-...
 

      Unknown from name son of Harsiese I. Fragment of name preserved at the lower part of granite sarcophagus from Koptos is …dju…  (...di aw...). Put on the Theban throne by his father.

840 - 835

 

Osorkon

Hm-nTr tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw imi-rA-mSa wr HAwti tA r-Dr.f sA-nsw rpat HAti(-a) wsrkn
 

      Son of Takelot II. In K. Kitchen opinion the high priest Osorkon  has nothing to do with the king Osorkon III, who being the son of Karoma III Meritmut, in  contrary to Osorkon, was not the son of Takelot. In D.A. Aston opinion in the year 11 of Takelot rule Osorkon made war expedition to Thebes, where Padibastet I announced himself a ruler, thus becoming Takelot’s rival. After victory campaign Osorkon regulated affairs at Thebes. Furthermore D.A Aston believes that the high priest Osorkon is identified with king Osorkon III, who came to the rule at Thebes in times of Sheshonq III.

835 - 816

Horsiese II 

Hm-nTr tpi n imn-ra-nsw-nTrw Hr-sA-Ast

      High priest of Amon at Thebes. He might have been grandson of Horsiese I, the king and high priest of Amon.

800 - 775

Takelot

Hm-nTr tpi n imn tklt

      Son of Nimlot - the prince of Herakleopolis, disclosed by Nile level indexes at Karnak dated to the year 23 of Padibastet I and year 6 of Sheshonq IV rule.