2.3.2 Provincial Administration
Each of the administrative districts or nomes had a provincial capi-
tal, where the local administration was based.^106 Nomarchs wielding
independent power as in the time of the Middle Kingdom have been
abolished.^107 Throughout the districts were towns, villages, and settle-
ments. Many of these would have qenbets, councils probably respon-
sible for both administrative and judicial matters.^108 In the village of
Deir el-Medina, “superiors” ( ̇ry.w) are mentioned, who seem to func-
tion as intermediaries between the town and the agents of central
power.^109
The Nauri Decree of Seti I (in Nubia) illustrates the wide range
of officials to which such an edict might be addressed, beginning
apparently with the most important and concluding with the least:^110
vizier, magistrates (sr.w), courtiers, councils of hearers (the courts),
viceroy of Kush (chief military officer), commandants, superinten-
dents of gold (Nubia being the gold-producing region), mayors of
towns (civil authorities), controller of Bedawi camps (local nomadic
populations in the area), charioteers, stable chiefs, standard bearers,
and, finally, every agent of the king’s estate.2.3.3 Local Government
The local administration of the early New Kingdom distinguished
between the urban/town centers, under the charge of “mayors”
( ̇3ty-')^111 or “rulers of manors” ( ̇q3.w- ̇.wt)^112 and rural areas (des-
ignated w-districts)^113 in the charge of “overseer(s) of the district”
(fimy-r-w) and “councils of the w-district” (qnb.wt w).^114 Mayors appar-
ently could reopen court cases, as is shown by an early New Kingdom
inscription (Seventeenth Dynasty).^115 Legal documents might be drawn
up in the office of the mayor.^116 In the Horemheb Decree, mayors(^106) Trigger et al. Social History.. ., 213.
(^107) Fischer, “Gaufürst,” col. 408.
(^108) Edgerton, “Government.. .,” 155–56.
(^109) Allam, “La vie municipale.. .,” 2. ’ernÿ, Community.. ., 130–31.
(^110) See Edgerton, “Nauri.. .,” 220–21.
(^111) Murnane, “Organization.. .,” 193; Eyre, Employment.. ., 135–38; Théodoridès,
“Procedure.. .,” 140; Allam, “Quenebete.. .,” 47; Katary, Land.. ., 207.
(^112) They were responsible to the vizier, being charged with coordinating with the
local government (Van den Boorn, Vizier.. ., 107).
(^113) Ibid., 174.
(^114) Ibid., 174, 108, 110.
(^115) Lorton, “Treatment.. .,” 23, n. 107.
(^116) Helck, “Bürgermeister,” 1, col. 876.
300
WESTBROOK_F9_289-359 8/27/03 1:43 PM Page 300