The High Priest of Ptah was sometimes referred to as "the Greatest of the Directors of Craftsmanship" ('' wr-ḫrp-ḥmwt''). This title refers to

Ptah Ptah ( egy, ptḥ, reconstructed ; grc, Φθά; cop, ⲡⲧⲁϩ; Phoenician: 𐤐𐤕𐤇, romanized: ptḥ) is an ancient Egyptian deity, a creator god and patron deity of craftsmen and architects. In the triad of Memphis, he is the hu ...

as the patron

god In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...

of the craftsmen.Dodson and Hilton, ''The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt'', 2004 Ramesses-Ptah-Sekhmet

The office of the high priest of Ptah was located in

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...

Lower Egypt Lower Egypt ( ar, مصر السفلى '; ) is the northernmost region of Egypt, which consists of the fertile Nile Delta between Upper Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, from El Aiyat, south of modern-day Cairo, and Dahshur. Historically, ...

. The temple of Ptah in Memphis was dedicated to Ptah, his consort

Sekhmet In Egyptian mythology, Sekhmet ( or Sachmis (), also spelled Sakhmet, Sekhet, Sakhet among other spellings, cop, Ⲥⲁⲭⲙⲓ, Sakhmi), is a warrior goddess as well as goddess of healing. She is depicted as a lioness. Sekhmet is a solar de ...

and their son

Nefertem Nefertem (; possibly "beautiful one who closes" or "one who does not close"; also spelled Nefertum or Nefer-temu) was, in Egyptian mythology, originally a lotus flower at the creation of the world, who had arisen from the primal waters.Nefertem ...

History

High priests of Ptah are mentioned in inscriptions dating back to at least the Fourth Dynasty. In the tomb of the nobleman Debhen, for instance, there is a description of a visit by Pharaoh

Menkaure Menkaure (also Menkaura, Egyptian transliteration ''mn-k3w-Rˁ''), was an ancient Egyptian king ( pharaoh) of the fourth dynasty during the Old Kingdom, who is well known under his Hellenized names Mykerinos ( gr, Μυκερῖνος) (by He ...

to the construction site for his pyramid "Divine is Menkaure". The pharaoh is accompanied by a naval commander and two high priests of Ptah. There used to be two high priests of Ptah until the Sixth Dynasty. It was probably during the reign of

Pepi I Meryre Pepi I Meryre (also Pepy I) was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, third king of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt, who ruled for over 40 years at the turn of the 24th and 23rd centuries BC, toward the end of the Old Kingdom period. He was the son of ...

that the two offices were combined into one. In the tomb of Sabu called Thety in

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, Memph ...

, the owner mentions that "His Majesty appointed me as High Priest of Memphis alone. ..The temple of "Ptah-South-of-His-Wall" in its every place was under my charge, although there never was a single High Priest of Ptah before." A large temple complex dating to the time of

Ramesses II Ramesses II ( egy, rꜥ-ms-sw ''Rīʿa-məsī-sū'', , meaning "Ra is the one who bore him"; ), commonly known as Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Along with Thutmose III he is often regarded a ...

is located at the modern site of

Mit Rahina , alternate_name = , image = , alt = , caption = Ruins of the pillared hall of Ramesses IIat Mit Rahina , map_type = Egypt#Africa , map_alt = , map_size = , relief = , coordinates = ...

. The Temple of Ptah from this time period was one of the largest temple complexes in Egypt. Not much of this complex has been excavated because a large part of the site lies very close to the modern town. It continued to be an important office in the Ptolemaic period, and the priestly family held many important priestly positions. The high priests crowned some of the Ptolemaic monarchs, and they also served as scribes in the dynastic cult of Arsinoe. They also had family connections to the dynasty, via Berenice daughter of

Ptolemy VIII Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II Tryphon ( gr, Πτολεμαῖος Εὐεργέτης Τρύφων, ''Ptolemaĩos Euergétēs Tryphon'' "Ptolemy the Benefactor; c. 184 BC – 28 June 116 BC), nicknamed Physcon ( "Fatty"), was a king of the Ptolema ...

who was married to one of high priests. The office appears to have disappeared during Roman rule of Egypt; it is last attested in 23 BC.

Sem Priest of Ptah

It was common for the high priest to also hold the title of ''sem'' priest of

. The ''sem'' priest could be recognized by the fact that he wore a short wig with a side-lock and was dressed in a panther skin.

List of High Priests of Ptah

Old Kingdom

Ptah-Du-Auu Ptah-Du-Auu was a nobleman and priest in ancient Egypt, who lived during the 4th dynasty. Ptah-Du-Auu was named after the god Ptah, whom he served. Biography Ptah-Du-Auu was the first known High Priest of Ptah The High Priest of Ptah wa ...

from the

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 ...

* Ptahshepses lived during the reigns of

through to Niuserre *

Ranefer Ranefer (or Ranofer) was a prince of ancient Egypt during the 4th Dynasty (Old Kingdom of Egypt). His name, Ranefer, comes from the Egyptian god Ra and the Ancient Egyptian word nefer (''nfr''), meaning "beauty." Ranefer, who had the title '' ...

Dynasty 5, reign of

Shepseskaf Shepseskaf (meaning "His Ka is noble") was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt, the sixth and probably last ruler of the fourth dynasty during the Old Kingdom period. He reigned most probably for four but possibly up to seven years in the late 26t ...

Userkaf Userkaf (known in Ancient Greek as , ) was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the founder of the Fifth Dynasty. He reigned for seven to eight years in the early 25th century BC, during the Old Kingdom period. He probably belonged to a branch of t ...

Kanefer ::''See also article Kanefer (High Priest of Ptah).'' Kanefer ("His Ka is beautiful") is the name of an ancient Egyptian prince. He lived during the 4th or early 5th Dynasty of the Old Kingdom period.Aidan Dodson, Dyan Hilton: ''The Complete Roy ...

Dynasty 5, reign of

Sahure Sahure (also Sahura, meaning "He who is close to Re") was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the second ruler of the Fifth Dynasty (c. 2465 – c. 2325 BC). He reigned for about 13 years in the early 25th century BC during the Old Kingdom Period ...

* Khuwyptah Dynasty 5, reign of

Neferirkare Kakai Neferirkare Kakai (known in Greek as Nefercherês, Νεφερχέρης) was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, the third king of the Fifth Dynasty. Neferirkare, the eldest son of Sahure with his consort Meretnebty, was known as Ranefer A before h ...

*Ptahshepses II Dynasty 5, reign of

Unas Unas or Wenis, also spelled Unis ( egy, wnjs, hellenized form Oenas or Onnos), was a pharaoh, the ninth and last ruler of the Fifth Dynasty of Egypt during the Old Kingdom. Unas reigned for 15 to 30 years in the mid- 24th century BC (circ ...

* Sabu also called Ibebi 5th and

6th dynasty The Sixth Dynasty of ancient Egypt (notated Dynasty VI), along with the Third, Fourth and Fifth Dynasty, constitutes the Old Kingdom of Dynastic Egypt. Pharaohs Known pharaohs of the Sixth Dynasty are listed in the table below. Manetho acc ...

reign of

and

Teti Teti, less commonly known as Othoes, sometimes also Tata, Atat, or Athath in outdated sources, was the first king of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt. He was buried at Saqqara. The exact length of his reign has been destroyed on the Turin King Lis ...

* Sabu also called Tjety. Time of

, possibly to

Pepi I Pepi I Meryre (also Pepy I) was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, third king of the Sixth Dynasty of Egypt, who ruled for over 40 years at the turn of the 24th and 23rd centuries BC, toward the end of the Old Kingdom period. He was the son of ...

(dynasty 6). * Sabu also called Kem. Time of

, possibly to

(dynasty 6).

Middle Kingdom

*Ptahemheb 11th Dynasty. *Sehetepebre-ankh time of Senusret I (Statue in Brooklyn Museum, Genealogy of Ankhefensekhmet Berlin 23673) * Senewosret-Ankh time of Senusret I? *Khakare-ankh time of Amenenhet II, known from the Genealogy of Ankhefensekhmet (Berlin 23673) *Nebkaure-ankh time of Senusret III, known from the Genealogy of Ankhefensekhmet (Berlin 23673) *Ouahet time of Senusret III *Nefertem * Sehetepebreankh-nedjem time of Senusret III to Amenemhat III. * Nebpu time of Amenemhat III. *(..)hotepib(rê?) Sheri Time of Amenemhat III *Impy I Time of Amenemhat III - Amenemhat IV

Second Intermediate Period

*Sergem (High Priest of Ptah) Time of Iby I (13th dynasty) *Sobekhotep (Haku), known from a statue and a seal * Senbuy *Seneber... (name not fully preserved), known from a papyrus found at Lahun *Impy II *Ptahemhat 15th dynasty

New Kingdom

Eighteenth Dynasty

*Pahemred Time of

Amenhotep I Amenhotep I () ( egy, jmn-ḥtp(w) /jaˌmanuwˈħatpaw/ "Amun is satisfied"; Amarna cuneiform ''a-ma-an-ha-at-pe'' or ''-at-pa''), Amenôthes I, or Amenophis I, (,) from Ancient Greek Ἀμένωφις ,Dodson & Hilton (2004) p.126 additionally ...

*Sennefer Time of

Amenhotep II Amenhotep II (sometimes called ''Amenophis II'' and meaning '' Amun is Satisfied'') was the seventh pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Amenhotep inherited a vast kingdom from his father Thutmose III, and held it by means of a few milit ...

* Ptahmose I Time of

Tuthmosis III Thutmose III (variously also spelt Tuthmosis or Thothmes), sometimes called Thutmose the Great, was the sixth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. Officially, Thutmose III ruled Egypt for almost 54 years and his reign is usually dated from 28 ...

* Ptahmose II Time of

Tuthmosis IV Thutmose IV (sometimes read as Thutmosis or Tuthmosis IV, Thothmes in older history works in Latinized Greek; egy, ḏḥwti.msi(.w) "Thoth is born") was the 8th Pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt, who ruled in approximately the 14th century ...

–

Amenhotep III Amenhotep III ( egy, jmn-ḥtp(.w), ''Amānəḥūtpū'' , "Amun is Satisfied"; Hellenized as Amenophis III), also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent or Amenhotep the Great, was the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth Dynasty. According to different ...

? *Penbenebes Time of

Only known from a stela now in Berlin.Donald B. Redford, The Coregency of Tuthmosis III and Amenophis II, The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, Vol. 51 (Dec., 1965), pp. 107-122 *Wermer Time of

Only known from a stela now in Berlin. * Ptahmose, son of Thutmose Son of vizier Thutmose. Reign of

. * Ptahmose, son of Menkheper Son of Menkheper, Reign of

. * Thutmose Son of

and Queen

Tiye Tiye (c. 1398 BC – 1338 BC, also spelled Tye, Taia, Tiy and Tiyi) was the daughter of Yuya and Thuya. She became the Great Royal Wife of the Egyptian pharaoh Amenhotep III. She was the mother of Akhenaten and grandmother of Tutankhamun. ...

. Time of

. *Pahemnetjer, son of Ptahmose Time of

. * Ptahemhat called Ty Time of

Tutankhamen Tutankhamun (, egy, twt-ꜥnḫ-jmn), Egyptological pronunciation Tutankhamen () (), sometimes referred to as King Tut, was an Egyptian pharaoh who was the last of his royal family to rule during the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty (ruled ...

and/or Ay. * Meryptah Late 18th dynasty. Possibly from the time of Ay and

Horemheb Horemheb, also spelled Horemhab or Haremhab ( egy, ḥr-m-ḥb, meaning " Horus is in Jubilation") was the last pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty of Egypt (1550–1295 BC). He ruled for at least 14 years between 1319 BC and 1292 BC. ...

Nineteenth Dynasty

*Sokaremsaf Time of

Seti I Menmaatre Seti I (or Sethos I in Greek) was the second pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt during the New Kingdom period, ruling c.1294 or 1290 BC to 1279 BC. He was the son of Ramesses I and Sitre, and the father of Ramesses II. The ...

, known from the Genealogy of Ankhefensekhmet (Berlin 23673) *Netjeruihotep Time of

*Iry-Iry Time of

Ramses II Ramesses II ( egy, rꜥ-ms-sw ''Rīʿa-məsī-sū'', , meaning "Ra is the one who bore him"; ), commonly known as Ramesses the Great, was the third pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt. Along with Thutmose III he is often regarded as t ...

Huy Huy ( or ; nl, Hoei, ; wa, Hu) is a city and municipality of Wallonia located in the province of Liège, Belgium. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the ''sillon industriel'', the former industrial ...

reign of

* Pahemnetjer reign of

* Didia reign of

Khaemwaset Prince Khaemweset (also translated as Khamwese, Khaemwese or Khaemwaset or Setne Khamwas) was the fourth son of Ramesses II and the second son by his queen Isetnofret. His contributions to Egyptian society were remembered for centuries after his ...

son of

and Isetnofret * (Pa)Rahotep reign of

* Neferronpet reign of

* Hori I Son of Prince Khaemwaset. Became HPM in year 65/66 of the reign of

. He continued to serve under his uncle

Merneptah Merneptah or Merenptah (reigned July or August 1213 BC – May 2, 1203 BC) was the fourth pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. He ruled Egypt for almost ten years, from late July or early August 1213 BC until his death on May 2, ...

(Hori may have been High priest from c. 1214 - c. 1203 BCE). * Iyri Time of

Seti II Seti II (or Sethos II) was the fifth pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Egypt and reigned from 1203 BC to 1197 BC. His throne name, Userkheperure Setepenre, means "Powerful are the manifestations of Re, the chosen one of Re." H ...

* Nakhy

Twentieth Dynasty

*Ptahemhat Time of

Ramesses III Usermaatre Meryamun Ramesses III (also written Ramses and Rameses) was the second Pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty in Ancient Egypt. He is thought to have reigned from 26 March 1186 to 15 April 1155 BC and is considered to be the last great mona ...

(1186-1155 BCE) *Neferrenpet Time of

Ramesses IX Neferkare Setepenre Ramesses IX (also written Ramses) (originally named Amon-her-khepshef Khaemwaset) (ruled 1129–1111 BC) was the eighth pharaoh of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt. He was the third longest serving king of this Dynasty after Ra ...

(1129-1111 BCE)

Third Intermediate Period

Twenty-first Dynasty

*Ptahemakhet * Ashakhet I c. 1062-1047 From the time of

Amenemnisu Neferkare Amenemnisu was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh, the second king of the 21st Dynasty. Reign Amenemnisu's existence was only confirmed in 1940 when the Tanite tomb of his successor Psusennes I was discovered by Pierre Montet: a gold bow ...

* Pipi A c. 1047-1027 Time of

Psusennes I Psusennes I ( egy, pꜣ-sbꜣ-ḫꜥ-n-njwt; Greek Ψουσέννης) was the third pharaoh of the 21st Dynasty who ruled from Tanis between 1047 and 1001 BC. ''Psusennes'' is the Greek version of his original name Pasibkhanu or Pasebakhaenniu ...

. Son of Ashaket A.K.A. Kitchen,The Third Intermediate Period in Egypt, 1100-650 B.C., 1996 ed. * Harsiese (High Priest of Ptah) c. 1027-1017 Time of

. Son of Pipi A * Neterkheperre Meryptah called Pipi II c. 1017-997 Time of

Amenemope Amenemope, also Amenemopet, Amenemipet or Amunemopet ''(ỉmn-m-ỉp3.t,'' Greek: ''αμενωφις;'' “Amun in Luxor”) is an Ancient Egyptian name. Its notable bearers were: * Amenemope (pharaoh) (died 992 BC), pharaoh, 21st dynasty * Amene ...

Osorkon the Elder Aakheperre Setepenre Osorkon the Elder was the fifth king of the 21st Dynasty of Ancient Egypt and was the first Pharaoh of Meshwesh (Ancient Libyan) origin. He is also sometimes known as Osochor, following Manetho's ''Aegyptiaca''. Biography Os ...

and

Siamun Neterkheperre or Netjerkheperre-Setepenamun Siamun was the sixth pharaoh of Egypt during the Twenty-first Dynasty. He built extensively in Lower Egypt for a king of the Third Intermediate Period and is regarded as one of the most powerful r ...

. * Ashakhet II c. 997-982. Son of HPM Pipi II. Father of HPM Ankhefensekhmet. * Ankhefensekhmet (A) c. 982-962. Son of Ashaket. Dated to the time of Siamen. * Shedsu-nefertum c. 962-942. End of Dynasty 21, beginning of dynasty 22, including

Shoshenq I Hedjkheperre Setepenre Shoshenq I ( Egyptian ''ššnq''; reigned c. 943–922 BC)—also known as Shashank or Sheshonk or Sheshonq Ifor discussion of the spelling, see Shoshenq—was a pharaoh of ancient Egypt and the founder of the Twenty-sec ...

Shedsu-nefertum was a son of the High Priest Ankhefensekhmet.

Twenty-second Dynasty

* Shoshenq C c. 920-895 Son of the high priest Shedsu-nefertum. Father of the high priest Osorkon A. Time of King

Osorkon I Sekhemkheperre Osorkon I was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 22nd Dynasty. Osorkon's territory included much of the Levant. The Osorkon Bust found at Byblos is one of the five Byblian royal inscriptions. Biography The son of Shoshenq I and ...

? *Osorkon A c. 895 –870 Time of King

Takelot I Hedjkheperre Setepenre Takelot I was an ancient Libyan ruler who was pharaoh during the Twenty-second Dynasty of Egypt. Reign Takelot I was the son of Osorkon I and Queen Tashedkhons, who ruled Egypt for thirteen years according to Manetho. Tak ...

and

Osorkon II Usermaatre Setepenamun Osorkon II was the fifth king of the Twenty-second Dynasty of Ancient Egypt and the son of King Takelot I and Queen Kapes. He ruled Egypt from approximately 872 BC to 837 BC from Tanis, the capital of that dynasty. After ...

? Son of Shoshenq C. *

Shoshenq D Shoshenq was a High Priest of Ptah during the 22nd Dynasty. Shoshenq was the eldest son of Osorkon II and Queen Karomama. He presided over the burial of the twenty-seventh Apis bull in Saqqara. For unknown reasons Shoshenq did not succeed to ...

c. 870-851 Son of King

and Queen Karomama (B). Time of King

. *Merenptah (High Priest of Ptah), c. 851-830 Time of

Takelot II Hedjkheperre Setepenre Takelot II Si-Ese was a pharaoh of the Twenty-third Dynasty of Ancient Egypt in Middle and Upper Egypt. He has been identified as the High Priest of Amun Takelot F, son of the High Priest of Amun Nimlot C at Thebes an ...

*Takelot B c. 830-810 Time of

and

Shoshenq III King Usermaatre Setepenre Shoshenq III of the 22nd Dynasty ruled for 39 years according to contemporary historical records. Two Apis Bulls were buried in the fourth and 28th years of his reign and he celebrated his Heb Sed Jubilee in his regnal ...

. Son of

* Pedieset c. 810-770 Son of HPM Takelot B and Princess Tjesbastperu. *Peftjauawybast (High Priest of Ptah) c. 790-780 Son of the high priest Pedieset and Tairy. Time of

*Harsiese II (High Priest of Ptah). Son of the high priest Peftjauawybast or son of Pedieset c. 780-760 Time of

Pami Usermaatre Setepenre Pami was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 22nd Dynasty who ruled for 7 years. "Pami" in Egyptian, means "the Cat" or "He who belongs to the Cat astet" Identity Pami's precise relationship with his immediate predecesso ...

. * Ankhefensekhmet (B), c. 760-740 Time of Shoshenq IV Son of Harsiese.

Twenty-fifth Dynasty

*Pedekhons?

Late Period

*Pedepep, temp. Psammetikhos I *Pefteuemauibaste

Ptolemaic Period

The High Priests of Ptah in Memphis became very important during the Ptolemaic Period.High Priests of Memphis
a website by Chris Bennett *Nesisti-Pedubast, son of Anemhor I and Renpet-neferet. Married to Renpet-neferet and Nefersobek. Children included Pedubast, Khonsiu, Amenhor II, Nefertiti and Neferibre. *Pedubast I (High Priest of Ptah), son of Nesisti-Pedubast and Nefersobek. *Amenhor II, son of Nesisti-Pedubast and Nefersobek. Married Herankh. Children include Djedhor, Horemakhet and possibly Horemhotep. *Djedhor son of Amenhor II and Herankh. *Horemakhet (223 BCE) son of Amenhor II and Herankh. *Nesisti (c. 190 BCE), son of Horemakhet and Nefertiti. Succeeded Horemakhet as High Priest of Memphis probably between 194/3 and 180 *Pedubast II (High Priest of Ptah), son of Psherenptah and Taimhotep. Grandson of Horemakhet and Nefertiti. *Psherenptah II, son of Pedubast II *Pedubast III (High Priest of Ptah) (103 BCE), son of Psherenptah II and Berenice (probably daughter of

) * Psherenptah III (76 BCE), son of Pedubast III and Herankh-beludje *Imhotep-Pedubast (39 BCE), son of Psherenptah III and Taimhotep *Psherenamun I (30 BCE), brother-in-law of Psherenptah III. Son of Ka-hapi and Her-ankh *Psherenamun II (27 BCE), son of Psherenamun I and Taneferher.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:High Priest of Ptah Ancient Egyptian priests Ancient Egypt-related lists Ancient Egyptian titles

Ptah Memphis, Egypt