the royal family through blood. In effect, this was
a political position of the highest stature. Thus, a
vizier, next to the per-aa, might be seen running
the post of high priest. No one wanted the high
priest to fail in his responsibility because he was at
the heart of the society, and those individuals who
depended upon the proper administration of the
temples, the per-aas, looked to the high priest for
guidance.
Another function of the priest, at the level of
wa’eb, was to clean the offering rooms and ensure
that tools and equipment that would be used in
ceremonies were clean and well placed so that the
officiating priests would be able to find all the nec-
essary accessories for the rituals. Actually, it was
recommended that all priests learn the office of the
wa’eb in the event that it became necessary for a
higher ranking priest to perform the duties of the
wa’eb. Making the ritual and ceremonial cloths
and instruments ready for use became a major part
of the priestly functions during the New Kingdom.
The office of thekheri-heb, the priest who knew
the formulaic responses, was an active one because
the kheri-heb was the chief producer of sacred
actions and activities. He would sing the sacred
songs, chant the rites from the sacred books,
explain the rituals and ceremonies, and lead the
processions. Sometimes called lector priests, these
kheri-hebs knew all of the special prayers, ways to
beseech the gods, and particular likes and dislikes
of the god they served. One could also act as an
oracle for those who wanted direct appeal to the
deity and were not afraid of the answers. Wearing
a broad band diagonally across their chests, the
kheri-heb sported their roles in bright colors. They
were the main players in the circle of the gods.
Nevertheless, one of the most important functions
of the priesthood was to serve assempriests. This
office was responsible for mummification and
burials. They are associated with the Opening of
the Mouth ceremony, where the awakening of the
god ceremony is performed. The sem priests could
wear leopard or panther skins.
PurificationPrior to entering the inner sanctum of the temple
where the god resided, priests had to purify them-
selves in a series of rituals. They would shave their
bodies of all hair and then bathe themselves with
natron so as to stand before the god in utter
purity. They were then permitted to wear only
white sandals and white linen. The higher ranks
may have worn leopard or panther skin like the
sem priests.
Before entering the temple’s most sacred sites,
the priest would bathe in water and rinse the
mouth out with natron and water so as to leave
nothing of ill-smelling scent in the holy of holies.
As the dawn rose over the hills, the priest would
approach the sanctuary with the words, “Awake
in peace, great god.” At the door, he would break
the seal and then a sacred chant would be made
four times over the image of the god to give the
god back his soul so that he could continue to
assert his form. Now that this ceremony had been
performed, the breakfast meal was placed before
the shrine and god. Bread, meat, roasted fowl,
fruit and vegetables, and jars of beer and wine
were placed before the god. Everything was pre-
pared in the temple’s kitchen according to the
health standards established by the priesthood.
No blood was to be spilled on the god’s altar, and
all food was to come from the temple’s farms. No
animal could be slaughtered in front of the god.
The god finished the food after a while, and the
remaining food was removed to the shrines of
lesser deities in the temple complex. When the
deities had their fill, the rest of the food was taken
to the kitchen and given to the workers who had
prepared it. The priest then went into the sanctu-
ary and sprinkled the entire place with water, five
grains of natron and resin were placed on the
floor, and incense was lit and left burning. This
was done three times a day. Thus, at morning,
noon, and dusk, similar to the three meals a day
regimen of many people, the god was fed. After
the evening meal, the god’s clothes were removed
and returned to the shrine, and the Evening Hymn
was recited. The doors of the inner sanctum were
closed and then resealed.
In addition to these activities, the priests also
officiated at feast days inside the temple during
the First of the Month and the New Moon
Festival. Some believe that the statue of the god
was paraded around the temple during these festi-
vals in an effort to receive offering from the
people who came to stand at the gates to see thePriests 539