Theban High Priests of Amun

See High Priests of Amun for high priests from the New Kingdom (dynasties 18-20).

While not regarded as a dynasty, the High Priests of Amun at Thebes were nevertheless of such power and influence that they were effectively the rulers of Upper Egypt from 1080 to c.943 BC, after which their influence declined. By the time Herihor was proclaimed as the first ruling High Priest of Amun in 1080 BC—in the 19th Year of Ramesses XI—the Amun priesthood exercised an effective stranglehold on Egypt's economy. The Amun priests owned two-thirds of all the temple lands in Egypt and 90 percent of her ships plus many other resources.[1] Consequently, the Amun priests were as powerful as Pharaoh, if not more so. One of the sons of the High Priest Pinedjem I would eventually assume the throne and rule Egypt for almost half a decade as pharaoh Psusennes I, while the Theban High Priest Psusennes III would take the throne as king Psusennes II, the final ruler of the 21st Dynasty

The High Priests

21st Dynasty

22nd Dynasty

Third Intermediate Period timeline

Nimlot C Harsiese B Smendes III Iuwelot Shoshenq C Iuput Psusennes III Pinedjem II Smendes II Menkheperre Djedkhonsuefankh Pinedjem I Piankh Herihor

References

  1. Clayton, Peter (1994). Chronicle of the Pharaohs. Thames & Hudson Ltd. p. 175. ISBN 9780500286289.

See also