Paissi

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Paissi was the food taster and cupbearer of the Hittite Emperor, Tudhaliya II. Like many in his profession during history, he had to ingest food prepared for the ruler to confirm it was safe to eat. Therefore, Paissi held the title of the ‘Cupbearer of the Emperor’.

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Paroy

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Paroy was the high priest of Anubis in the capital at the time of Amenhotep III.

His titles were ‘Head of the secrets in the Chest of Anubis’, Sem-priest in the ‘Place of Embalmment’, and ‘Embalmer’. In addition, he had honorific titles such as ‘Great friend of the King, ‘Seal-bearer of the King of Lower Egypt’, and ‘Royal scribe of Amenhotep III’.
His father was Sennetjer, the ‘Sem-priest of the Place of Embalmment’ and his mother, Senemiahbet, the ‘Lady of the house’. He had four wives mentioned in his beautifully painted tomb: Neferetiry (the most frequently attested), Thepi, Isis and Renenutet. Two children are also named there: Huy and Henutwedjheb.

His small but colorful and exquisite tomb is in Thebes (Luxor): TT 295.

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Pashedu

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Captain of the troops guarding the caravans, transporting copper and turquoise (the sacred stone dedicated to Hathor). (See Hathor). The caravans between the mines in the Sinai mountains (today Serabit el–Khadem) and Men–Nefer (capital) were regular and had to be heavily guarded against the desert raiders.

Pashedu was a common name in ancient Egypt, often used during history. For example, at the time of Pharaoh Set I. (19th dynasty), there was a tomb painter called Pashedu whose tomb is in Thebes (Luxor): TT3.

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Penti

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Servant and butler of Merutef, the high priest of Thoth in Men–Nefer (Memphis) during the reign of Amenhotep III.

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Per-Wadjet / Buto

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Buto can be traced back to ancient Egyptian ‘per-wadjet’ (‘House or temple of Wadjet’). Per–Wadjet (or Buto) was a town in the northeastern Delta of the Nile (modern Tell el-Fara’in) in the sixth Lower Egyptian nome, and it was the location of the towns Pe and Dep. Together they formed the twin capital cities of Lower Egypt, just as Hierakonpolis and Elkab were the twin capital cities of Upper Egypt. The protective goddess of Lower Egypt, the cobra Wadjet, was worshipped here. The Buto oracle was famous in ancient times, and Herodotus says it was very reliable. According to this Greek author, the island of Chemmis was situated nearby, where Isis bore her son Horus or hid him from his uncle Seth. 

 

Petra

 

Petra (originally Raqmu or Raqēmō, in biblical times, Sela) is an archaeological city in southern Jordan. The name we know today comes from Greek, meaning ‘Rock’. The area around Petra has been inhabited from as early as 7000 BC, and a small city formed in the valley at early times, where the caravans could rest and trade. Petra is a famous site for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system.

The city was built on a terrace stretching east to west in the Wadi Musa (the Valley of Moses), a long gorge (1.2 km). According to tradition, this could have been the place where Moses hit a rock with his staff, and water flew from a spring. The valley’s walls are colorful sandstone with shades of red and purple varying to pale yellow, which is probably why Petra was called the ‘Rose City’ since ancient times.

 

Ptah

 

In ancient Egyptian religion, Ptah was the creator-god as the ‘Maker of Things’. For this attribute, he was the patron of craftsmen, especially sculptors, and his high priests were the ‘chief controller of craftsmen’.

Ptah formed the protective triad of Memphis with the goddess Sekhmet (his wife) and the young god Nefertem. The sacred bull Apis had was kept in his central temple in Memphis. (See Apis bull)

Ptah was so central to ancient Egyptian worship that the name ‘Egypt’ derives from him (from the Greek ‘Aegyptos’, which was the Greek pronunciation of the ancient Egyptian name ‘Hwt-Ka-Ptah’ (‘Mansion of the Spirit of Ptah’).

The ordinary physicians studied at the temple of Ptah. Egyptian medical practice was highly advanced for its time, including simple, non-invasive surgery, setting of bones, dentistry, and an extensive set of pharmacopoeias. Sekhmet was also the goddess of incurable sicknesses. The best doctors and surgeons came from her temple, while anatomy they learned in the houses of mummification. 

 

Ptahmose

 

Ptahmose was the high priest of Ptah in Memphis during the pharaoh Thutmose IV, and his service stretched into the reign of Amenhotep III (18th dynasty). He gave his title as a high priest to the throne prince, the firstborn of Amenhotep III., Thutmose, who became first the sem–priest of Ptah, then high priest of Ptah.

Ptahmose is mentioned on a limestone stela with his brother Meryptah. He was the son of the Thutmose (grand vizier) and his wife Tawy. Ptahmose held the titles ‘Governor’, ‘The one who is great in his office’ and ‘Important in the palace’, ‘Sem-priest’, and ‘Chief of the Master Craftsmen’.

His brother, Meryptah, is also a well-known individual. Apparently, he was a good friend of Amenhotep III. because he held the title of the ‘Beloved Sole Companion’, ‘Confidant of the Good God’ (the pharaoh), the ‘Prophet and Chief Steward of the Mansion’ (of Amenhotep III). He also served as the vizier of Upper Egypt.