A History of Ancient Near Eastern Law

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chiefs.^83 The boundaries of these administrative or military areas shift

throughout the Third Intermediate period.^84

2.2.1.7 Little is known of the administration under the Nubians.^85 On

the highest level, Tefnakhte, the Delta potentate, swears an oath of

loyalty to the invading Nubian king, Piye.^86 The High Priest of Amun

gradually loses political and economic significance.^87 In the later

Third Intermediate period, the “God’s Wives of Amun” become cor-

respondingly very important in the Theban area.^88 The Nubian kings

appoint their sisters to this distinguished post, although the actual

authority of the office is uncertain.^89 The transition to the Saite Twenty-

sixth Dynasty is marked by the adoption of Nitocris, the daughter

of Psamtik I, by the God’s Wife of Amun, Shepenwepet II, a daughter

of Piye.^90 The transition from the Nubian to the Saite period is also

marked by the virtual elimination of the viziership at Thebes and

the appropriation of the powers of that office by the steward of the

God’s Wife of Amun.^91

2.2.1.8 It appears that, apart from a few Assyrian military and

officials, native Egyptians still performed administrative functions

under the Assyrian occupation (ca. 671–664).^92

2.2.1.9 As in the New Kingdom, land registers (dny.w) or official

records seem to be maintained.^93 In the Dakhla Stela, for example,

the god declares: “only one well was found on that cadastral register

of the wells and orchards of Pire, which the controller, PN, issued as

a copy of the register of Pharaoh Psusennes, the great god, in year 19.”^94

(^83) Edwards, “Egypt.. .,” 571.
(^84) Ibid., 553, 555.
(^85) Leclant, “Kuschitenherrschaft,” col. 894. See also Edwards, “Egypt.. .,” 570;
James, “Egypt...,” 687–88, 702.
(^86) Edwards, “Egypt.. .,” 573.
(^87) James, “Egypt.. .,” 692.
(^88) Trigger et al., Social History.. ., 241.
(^89) Leclant, “Kuschitenherrschaft,” col. 894.
(^90) Graefe, “Schepenupet I./III.,” cols. 581–82.
(^91) Ritner, “Libyan Anarchy.. .,” 103–4. See also Meeks, “Donations.. .,” 632.
(^92) See O’Connor in Trigger et al., Social History.. ., 245–46; Spalinger, “Esarhaddon
and Egypt...”; Onasch, Die assyrischen Eroberungen Ägyptens, 158.
(^93) Allam, “Publizität.. .,” 36.
(^94) Gardiner, “Dakhleh Stela.. .,” 22.
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