Tefibi (or Itj-ibj – ''It(.i)ib(.i)''
[Donald B. Spanel, in ]Donald B. Redford
Donald Bruce Redford (born September 2, 1934) is a Canadian Egyptologist and archaeologist, currently Professor of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies at Pennsylvania State University. He is married to Susan Redford, who is also an Egyptolo ...
(ed), ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt'' vol. 1, Oxford University Press, 2001, pp. 154-6. – in a more modern reading) was an
ancient Egyptian
nomarch
A nomarch ( grc, νομάρχης, egy, ḥrj tp ꜥꜣ Great Chief) was a provincial governor in ancient Egypt; the country was divided into 42 provinces, called nomes (singular , plural ). A nomarch was the government official responsib ...
of the 13th ''
nomos'' 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 ...
(''"the Upper
Sycamore
Sycamore is a name which has been applied to several types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms. The name derives from the ancient Greek ' (''sūkomoros'') meaning "fig-mulberry".
Species of trees known as sycamore:
* ''Acer pseudoplata ...
"'') during the
10th Dynasty (c. 21st century BCE, during the
First Intermediate Period
The First Intermediate Period, described as a 'dark period' in ancient Egyptian history, spanned approximately 125 years, c. 2181–2055 BC, after the end of the Old Kingdom. It comprises the Seventh (although this is mostly considered spurious ...
). In addition, he also was ''hereditary prince, count, wearer of the royal seal, sole companion'' and ''high priest of
Wepwawet
In late Egyptian mythology, Wepwawet ( hieroglyphic ''wp-w3w.t''; also rendered Upuaut, Wep-wawet, Wepawet, and Ophois) was originally a war deity, whose cult centre was Asyut in Upper Egypt (Lycopolis in the Greco-Roman period). His name means ...
''. The main source about his life came from his biography, inscribed on the "tomb III" in
Asyut
AsyutAlso spelled ''Assiout'' or ''Assiut'' ( ar, أسيوط ' , from ' ) is the capital of the modern Asyut Governorate in Egypt. It was built close to the ancient city of the same name, which is situated nearby. The modern city is located at , ...
.
It is generally assumed that Tefibi was the second of a trio of related nomarchs datable to the
Herakleopolite period; he was likely preceded by his father Khety and followed by his son, also named
Khety.
[
]
Biography
He was member of a long line of nomarchs in Asyut with strong bonds of loyalty and friendship towards the Herakleopolite dynasty, and seems that he continued the policy of good governance pursued by his father Khety I: in fact, Tefibi praised the safety and the respect of the laws in his ''nomos''.
When the Thebans
''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...
extended their influences on Thinis
Thinis (Greek: Θίνις ''Thinis'', Θίς ''This'' ; Egyptian: Tjenu; cop, Ⲧⲓⲛ; ar, ثينيس) was the capital city of the first dynasties of ancient Egypt. Thinis remains undiscovered but is well attested by ancient writers, includ ...
and Abydos, the Herakleopolite 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 ...
(who is generally believed to be Wahkare Khety
Wahkare Khety was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 9th or 10th Dynasty during the First Intermediate Period.
Identity
The identity of Wahkare Khety is controversial. While some scholars believe that he was the founder of the 9th Dynasty ...
) and Tefibi rallied their troops, and swiftly regained Thinis. Their undisciplined soldiers sacked the sacred necropolis
A necropolis (plural necropolises, necropoles, necropoleis, necropoli) is a large, designed cemetery with elaborate tomb monuments. The name stems from the Ancient Greek ''nekropolis'', literally meaning "city of the dead".
The term usually im ...
, as reported by the king himself in the ''Teaching for King Merykare
The ''Teaching for King Merykara'', alt. ''Instruction Addressed to King Merikare'', is a literary composition in Middle Egyptian, the classical phase of the Egyptian language, probably of Middle Kingdom date (2025–1700 BC).
In this ''sebayt'' ...
''.[Hayes, op. cit., p. 466-467.]
Tefibi died during the reign of king Merykare
Merikare (also Merykare and Merykara) was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 10th Dynasty who lived toward the end of the First Intermediate Period.
Purportedly inspired by the teaching of his father, he embarked on a semi-peaceful coexistence ...
, who installed Khety II, son of the deceased, as nomarch in Asyut.
References
Further reading
* Spanel, Donald B., "The Herakleopolitan Tombs of Kheti I, Jt(.j)jb(.j), and Kheti II at Asyut", ''Orientalia'', 58, 1989, pp. 301–14.
External links
The Biography of Tefibi
{{authority control
Nomarchs
People of the Tenth Dynasty of Egypt
Ancient Egyptian priests
Ancient Egyptian royal sealers