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traveling through the country, visiting Thebes, for example, on the
occasion of major religious festivals.^682.3.1.2 Each of the two (?) viziers had their own treasury, the grain
supply remaining centralized.^69 Royal appointees were in charge of
the royal domain,^70 the military,^71 religious government, and civil
government.^72 The administrative section responsible for the temples,
of great economic significance, was led by such high officials as the
“Overseer of the Prophets of Upper and Lower Egypt” (sometimes
held by the vizier)^73 and the “High Priest of Amun.”^74 The rela-
tionship between the temple administration and the royal authority
through the years is still debated.^75 The king apparently appointed
prominent temple officials himself^76 and dispatched his own officials
periodically to inspect the temples.^77 Supervisors were named of par-
ticularly important commodities, such as an “overseer of granaries”
or an “overseer of cattle.”^78 The organization of corvée labor was
an especially significant aspect of New Kingdom administration.^792.3.1.3 The vizier headed the internal government, a task which
naturally involved juridical duties.^80 There may have been two viziers
at times.^81 The Duties of the Vizier minutely describes his many
responsibilities. This oft-cited source may not, however, accurately
represent the New Kingdom office but rather that of the later Middle
Kingdom.^82 In P. Berlin 10470 (Seventeenth Dynasty) the vizier is(^68) Trigger et al. Social History.. ., 215.
(^69) See Lurje, Studien.. ., 27–34.
(^70) Royal officials were the “Chancellor” (fimy-r s≈3wty), the “Chief Steward” (fimy-
r pr-wr), the “Chamberlain” (fimy-r '§nwty); see Trigger et al., Social History.. ., 208.
(^71) A “Scribe of Recruits” oversaw the military.
(^72) See Trigger et al., Social History.. ., 209.
(^73) Ibid., 208.
(^74) Allam, “Quenebete.. .,” 39. Cf. Allam, “Zur Tempelgerichtbarkeit.. .,” 1.
(^75) Trigger et al. Social History.. ., 211.
(^76) Edgerton, “Government.. .,” 157–58.
(^77) Vittmann, Elephantine.. ., 48.
(^78) Trigger et al. Social History.. ., 214.
(^79) Helck, Wirtschaftsgeschichte.. ., 226–30. See further Vleeming, Papyrus Reinhardt,
52–55.
(^80) Van den Boorn, Vizier.. ., 315–20. See also Martin-Pardey, “Wesir,” cols.
1227–35; Théodoridès, “Dénonciation.. .,” 64–69.
(^81) Allam, “Quenebete.. .,” 37. See also Trigger et al., Social History.. ., 214.
(^82) Theodorides, “Concept of Law.. .,” 307.
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