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[ Return to Life
in Ancient Egypt ]
The priests
Ancient Egyptian priests were known as
"hem-netjer" (servants of the god) and were essentially officials who
were employed at the temple to look after the daily needs of the cult
statue. Priests were not necessarily religious, some inherited the post
from their father, in certain circumstances, priestly offices could even
be purchased. There were groups of priests who had specialist knowledge,
others who taught writing and copied out texts, and others who attended to
the economic organisation of the temple. Temples were the residences of
the gods, but the enclosure could also include workshops, libraries, and
estates. As such, priests in Ancient Egypt had a different role to a
modern day priest.
The different roles of the priests
Hem-Netjer
servant of god |
The "Hem-Netjer" prepared and carried
forward offerings to the god and assisted at ceremonies and
processions. They had access to the sanctuary where the divine image
was kept, and controlled the entrance to the temple. |
Hem-Netjer Tepey
high priest |
The
position of "Hem-Netjer Tepey" or "overseer" was used at cult centres
where there were a large number of hem-netjer (servants of god). They
would often work on their land or tend to their jobs in the state
administration when they weren't doing their temple service. Generally
this role was performed by high ranking individuals, often the sons or
sons-in-law of the pharaoh, and on occasions even the viziers. |
Wa'eb
pure one |
The
"Wa'eb" would assist the hem-netjer by carrying out
lesser tasks in the maintainance of the temple and its rituals. He assured the
purity of the ceremonial rooms, the people, instruments and tools. A
basic but important role, all priests would have been trained as a wa'eb, and as such, could always act as a wa'eb if necessary. |
Kheri-Heb
lector priest |
The
"Kheri-Heb" would recite, sing or chant rites directly
from the
sacred books at ceremonies and processions. They also recited formulae
and prayers to appeal to the gods, and functioned as oracles for
people who sought out advice of the deities. Distinguished by a broad
band worn diagonally across their chests, several kheri-heb could be
based at each greater temple, taking turns to perform their functions. |
| Sem priest |
The
"Sem" priests performed the elaborate rituals at mummifications and
burials. They are particularly associated with the "opening of the
mouth" ritual, and are shown distinctively dressed in a panther or
leopard skin. |
Ritual and respect in the temple
| Before the priest could enter the innermost sanctuary where the god resided,
he had to
purify himself by performing a series of rituals. There is
evidence that in the New Kingdom and thereafter, priests
would shave their entire bodies, and they cleansed with natron. They also abstained from certain foods,
although
this did not involve ritual fasting. They were permitted to wear
only garments of linen, and white papyrus sandals. The higher ranks
were favoured with special robes such as the leopardskins worn by the
Sem priests (see right).
When the priest was ready to enter the temple, he would wash
himself in water, rinsing away dirt and sweat and bestowing energy and
rejuvenation upon himself. He would also rinse his mouth with a natron
and water mixture. |
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A sem priest, dressed in
his distinctive leopard skin and holiding the ritual adze, performs
the "opening of the mouth" ceremony on Tutankhamun's mummy. |
As the morning sun appeared first over the horizon, the priests would
intone the dawn hymn that began "Awake in peace, great god" (with the name
of the specific god being mentioned). The most senior priest approached
the sanctuary within the dimly lit temple, and would break the door seal,
opening the sanctuary door. A ritual prayer would be spoken four times over
the image of the god, giving the god back his soul so that he could
reassert his physical earthly shape.
The god's image was cleansed, rubbed with oil, and purified. The deity's
old garments were then removed, and incense burned to cleanse and purify the sanctuary. The image was redressed in colourful new linen garments,
could have perfumes and cosmetics applied to its face, and could even be adorned with
jewels.
The breakfast meal was then laid out before the shrine and the god. There
was bread, joints of meat, roasted fowl, baskets of fruit and vegetables
and jars of beer and wine. All the offerings were prepared in the temple
kitchens, using produce from the temple estates. When animals were prepared for their meat, no blood was spilt
on the god’s altar, nor was the animal slaughtered in the sight of the
god.
| Once the god had
had its fill, the food was removed, perhaps first to be
placed before the shrines of lesser deities, and then returned to the
kitchens to be distributed as wages to the temple personnel. The image and
the entire sanctuary was then sprinkled with water, five grains of natron
and resin were placed on the floor, and more incense wafted. The doors of
the sanctuary were then closed and resealed. These rituals were performed three times, morning, noon and dusk, though
the latter two were briefer. After the evening meal, the god’s vestments
were removed before the cult statue was returned to the shrine and the
Evening Hymn was recited.
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The regular feast days celebrated within
the temple included First of the Month festivals and the New Moon
festivals. On these days, the cult statue may have been paraded around
the temple precincts, pausing for offerings to be made at places
designated. At other temple rites, the statue would not move outside
the innermost rooms. People could come to the outermost courts of the
temple to seek the god’s help and advice.
During major festivals such as the Opet festival at Karnak, the god’s
image was taken outside of the temple enclosure in an elaborate
procession. At times such as these, the people could even come forth and
seek the god’s advice in the form of an oracle. |
Priestly family life
Priests normally married, had children, and enjoyed family life. During
the New Kingdom, priests served in four phyles, each working for one month in three.
For eight months they carried on their normal profession or business,
whether political, administrative or commercial, then came into the
temple. Before entering a temple for their service, they had to abstain from
sexual contact.
A power hungry priesthood
The priestly class of society grew continually, playing an increasing role
in the economy and in government as the dynasties went by. During the New
Kingdom it was the High Priest of Amun at Thebes who exercised supreme
authority and was chosen for this role by the king himself. However by the end of the 20th Dynasty, the High Priests of Amun
had became so powerful they rivalled the position of pharaoh himself. It
is believed that the escalating power of the priesthood at this time was
one of the fundamental reasons why the so called "heretic" pharaoh
Akhenaten, adopted his new monothestic religion, elevating "Aten" the
sun-disc as the supreme and only god.
Discover the leisure
activities of the Ancient Egyptians >>
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