Metjen (also read as Methen) was an ancient Egyptian high official at the transition time from 3rd Dynasty to

4th Dynasty The Fourth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty IV) is characterized as a "golden age" of the Old Kingdom of Egypt. Dynasty IV lasted from to 2494 BC. It was a time of peace and prosperity as well as one during which trade with other ...

. He is famous for his tomb inscription, which provide that he worked and lived under the kings (

pharaoh Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian: ''pr ꜥꜣ''; cop, , Pǝrro; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') is the vernacular term often used by modern authors for the kings of ancient Egypt who ruled as monarchs from the First Dynasty (c. 3150 BC) until the an ...

Huni Huni (original reading unknown) was an ancient Egyptian king and the last pharaoh of the Third Dynasty of Egypt during the Old Kingdom period. Following the Turin king list, he is commonly credited with a reign of 24 years, ending c. 2613 ...

and

Sneferu Sneferu ( snfr-wj "He has perfected me", from ''Ḥr-nb-mꜣꜥt-snfr-wj'' "Horus, Lord of Maat, has perfected me", also read Snefru or Snofru), well known under his Hellenized name Soris ( grc-koi, Σῶρις by Manetho), was the founding phar ...

Identity

Family

According to his own tomb inscriptions, Metjen was a son of the high official Inpu-em-Ankh, a judge at the royal court of justice and a royal scribe. Metjen's mother was a high priestess named ''Neb-senet''. Metjen also had children, which he indirectly mentions, but their names are not handed down.Toby A. H. Wilkinson: ''Early Dynastic Egypt''. Routledge, London/New York 2001, , p. 93, 112, 125 & 147.Wolfgang Helck: ''Untersuchungen zur Thinitenzeit'' (= ''Ägyptologische Abhandlungen'', Vol. 45). Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden 1987, , p. 268–274.

Titles

As a high-ranking official, Metjen bore several elite titularies: * ''Confidant of the king'' (Egyptian: ''Rekh-neswt''). A title that allowed Metjen to receive audiences at the

. * ''Great one of the 'ten of

Upper Egypt Upper Egypt ( ar, صعيد مصر ', shortened to , , locally: ; ) is the southern portion of Egypt and is composed of the lands on both sides of the Nile that extend upriver from Lower Egypt in the north to Nubia in the south. In ancient ...

(Egyptian: ''Wer-medi-shemaw''). The exact meaning of this title is unknown, some scholars believe it designated the royal court of justice. * ''Privy council'' (Egyptian: ''Sa'ab''). Significantly, there is next to nothing known about this office, but it must have been one of the most wanted curatorial and political posts of that era (right after the title "Great one of the 'ten of Upper Egypt'). * ''Administrator of Hat-mehyt'' (Egyptian: ''Adj-mer Hat-mehyt''). * ''Administrator of Khepesh'' (Egyptian: ''Adj-mer Khepesh''). The reading of the last sign is uncertain, but it must designate a certain nome. * ''Administrator of the Khasuu-nome'' (Egyptian: ''Adj-mer-khasuu''). * ''Curator of the endowment estate of king

in the Khepesh nome'' (Egyptian: ''Heqa-hwt-Huni-khepesh''). The exact geographical location of the estate is unknown, but it is mentioned on the famous Palermo stone. * ''Curator of the ''Ka''-house of queen Nimaathapi'' (Egyptian: ''Heqa-hwt-ka-Nimaathapi'').

Career

Metjen's tomb inscriptions are of the highest interest to Egyptologists and historians alike. They are in fact the very first Ancient Egyptian private texts that reveal more than only titles and offering formulae. Metjen is the first high official who reports his own professional and curatorial career by listing his official and honorary titles in chronological order and describing the support of his career by his parents. According to Metjen's

autobiography An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life. It is a form of biography. Definition The word "autobiography" was first used deprecatingly by William Taylor in 1797 in the English peri ...

, he inherited many of his titles after the death of his father, other high ranked titles were assigned to him by his father himself. The inheritance included also several

decree A decree is a legal proclamation, usually issued by a head of state (such as the president of a republic or a monarch), according to certain procedures (usually established in a constitution). It has the force of law. The particular term used for ...

s which allowed Metjen to found his own estates and even small towns. Metjen started as a royal scribe, then became overseer of the royal scribes and confidant of the king, then he became administrator of several palatinates and royal storages. Finally, he became "great one of the 'Ten of Upper Egypt'" and privy council. Additionally, the royal house gave several estates to Metjen, whereupon he founded the town ''Sheret-Metjen'' (Egyptian: ''Šr.t-Mṯn'') at his favorite estate. As a sign of gratitude, Metjen in turn donated hundreds of precious trees to royal domains. At the peak of his career, Metjen was also

mayor In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well a ...

of several cities, curator of the endowment estate of king Huni and supervisor of the mortuary cult for queen Nimaathapi. Contemporary office partners included

Netjeraperef Netjeraperef is the name of an ancient Egyptian high official and prince. He lived and worked at the transition time between 3rd and 4th Dynasty during the Old Kingdom period.Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton: ''The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Eg ...

Khabawsokar Khabawsokar (also read Khabawseker) was an Ancient Egyptian high official during the early to midst 3rd dynasty. He is famous for his tomb inscription and his unique nickname.Peter Jánosi: ''Die Gräberwelt der Pyramidenzeit'' (= ''Zaberns Bild ...

Pehernefer Pehernefer (also written Peher-nefer) is the personal name of an ancient Egyptian high official, who held office under the reigns of the pharaohs Huni and Sneferu, in the time between the end of 3rd Dynasty and the beginning of the 4th Dynasty dur ...

and

Akhetaa Akhetaa (also written Achtiaa and Aa-Akhti) was an ancient Egyptian high official during the mid to late 3rd Dynasty ( Old Kingdom period). He is mostly known for his tomb inscriptions, which refer to various seldom used titles as well as to the ...

, who were also holding office under Huni and Sneferu. All their tomb inscriptions reveal that the time of both kings must have been a very prosperous one; and economy and office administration flourished.Toby A. H. Wilkinson: ''Early Dynastic Egypt''. Routledge, London 2002, , p. 119.

Tomb

Metjen's tomb, mastaba ''L6'', was found in 1842 by

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

Egyptologist

Carl Richard Lepsius Karl Richard Lepsius ( la, Carolus Richardius Lepsius) (23 December 181010 July 1884) was a pioneering Prussian Egyptologist, linguist and modern archaeologist. He is widely known for his magnum opus ''Denkmäler aus Ägypten und Äthiopien'' ...

Saqqara Saqqara ( ar, سقارة, ), also spelled Sakkara or Saccara in English , is an Egyptian village in Giza Governorate, that contains ancient burial grounds of Egyptian royalty, serving as the necropolis for the ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis. ...

. He excavated the tomb and ordered the dismantling of the tomb for preservation. Metjen's tomb chapels are now completely on display at the

Egyptian Museum of Berlin The Egyptian Museum of Berlin (german: Ägyptisches Museum und Papyrussammlung) is home to one of the world's most important collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts, including the iconic Nefertiti Bust. Since 1855, the collection is a part of t ...

. Here was also found the

Statue of Metjen The Statue of Metjen is on display in the Egyptian Museum of Berlin, Egyptian Museum in Berlin and has the inventory number ÄM 1106. The statue was discovered at Abusir in Metjen's mastaba by the Egyptian expedition (1842–1845) under the direct ...

References

{{Third Dynasty of Ancient Egypt People of the Third Dynasty of Egypt 27th-century BC people