lance, and the temples kept their own people available to
insure order and a harmonious spirit.
Police units were stationed at the borders to watch
over caravans and trading expeditions and to maintain
order among the foreigners who came with their own
goods to conduct business within Egyptian territory.
Police also watched over the various necropolises of
Egypt, particularly those having royal tombs. Mortuary
complexes had to be guarded by priests and police, and
the vast tombs of the Theban western shore had to be
patrolled on a daily basis. Other units functioned under
the direction of the nome chiefs in the various districts of
Egypt. Still other units, mostly military, protected the
workers in the quarry and mine sites in the desert area
within Egypt’s borders or in the surrounding territories,
such as the SINAI.
Pompey (Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus)(d. 48 B.C.E.)
Roman general and enemy of Julius Caesar who was called
Magnus (the Great)
He was born in 106 B.C.E. and rose rapidly in Roman
political circles, fighting for Sulla against Marius. Pompey
put down Spartacus’s slave rebellion and cleared the
Mediterranean Sea of pirates. He also ended the war with
Mithridates of Pontus.
Marrying Julia, the daughter of Julius CAESAR, Pom-
pey joined the First Triumvirate of Caesar and Crassus,
although the death of Julia caused an enmity between
him and her father. In 55 B.C.E. he had PTOLEMY XII
AULETES(80–58, 55–51 B.C.E.) restored to the throne of
Egypt through the efforts of Gabinus. He also ruled Rome
as consul while Caesar was in Gaul. Pompey was
appointed the legal guardian of CLEOPATRA VII, the coruler
of Egypt, in accordance with the will left by her father.
He then entered into a civil war with Julius Caesar in 49
B.C.E. and was defeated by the latter at the battle of
Pharsalus the following year. Fleeing to ALEXANDRIA,
Pompey was murdered by Cleopatra VII’s brother,
PTOLEMY XIII(51–47 B.C.E.). His head was given to Caesar
when he arrived in Alexandria.
Poseidippos of Pella(fl. third century B.C.E.)Greek
poet who lived in Alexandria
His verses were discovered in a papyrus and are in the
Louvre in Paris. Poseidippos described the statue on the
top of the LIGHTHOUSE OF ALEXANDRIA, identifying it as an
image of Zeus the Savior.
posesh-khef This was a mortuary instrument of ancient
Egypt, fashioned as a slightly forked tool. Made of horn
or granite, the instrument was discovered in the tomb of
MONTUHOTEP II(r. 2061–2010 B.C.E.) of the Eleventh
Dynasty at DEIR EL-BAHRI. The posesh-khefwas used in
MORTUARY RITUALS to bring about resurrection and
renewed life of certain organs of the deceased. Elaborate
rites were performed on the deceased, whose mummified
remains were stood upright. In later historical periods
statues or cartonnage images received the mystical rites.Potter, The(fl. c. 130 B.C.E.)Mysterious prophet of Pto-
lemaic Egypt
He became a public figure in the reign of PTOLEMY VIII
EUERGETES II(170–163, 145–116 B.C.E.). The Potter was a
devotee of the ancient Egyptian ways and announced an
oracle prophecy concerning the return of “the Great
Spirit,” probably that of the goddess MA’AT, to MEMPHIS,
Egypt’s original capital.
When “the Great Spirit” returned to Memphis,
according to the Potter, all evil would end and the for-
eigners would “drop like dead leaves from a dead
branch.” ALEXANDRIA, the Ptolemaic center, would return
to its role as “a drying place by the sea for fishermen and
their nets.” The Potter’s oracle was very popular among
Egyptians because of their desire for independence but
was proven unreliable by the course of events. The Ptole-
maic royal line was not beloved by the Egyptians. These
rulers were Greek in language, customs, and marriage,
and they seldom left Alexandria to visit the various
nomes.Prehirwonmef (1)(fl. 13th century B.C.E.) Royal
prince of the Nineteenth Dynasty
He was the son of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224 B.C.E.) and
Queen NEFERTARI, depicted in reliefs portraying the battle
of KADESHin the fifth year of Ramesses II’s reign. There
with other princes, Prehirwonmef and his brothers were
warned: “Keep yourselves clear of the battle.” Reaching
maturity, Prehirwonmef was in the military service but
died at a young age and was buried in THEBES.Prehirwonmef (2)(fl. 12th century B.C.E.) Royal
prince of the Twentieth Dynasty
He was a son of RAMESSES III(r. 1194–1163 B.C.E.) and
served as a royal charioteer. Prehirwonmef was depicted
with 19 of his brothers on the walls of MEDINET HABU. His
tomb in the VALLEY OF THE QUEENSat Thebes has corri-
dors and a square hall with a side chapel.priests The numerous religious and temple attendants
of Egypt, whose role remained constant in all historical
periods, the priests kept the TEMPLEand sanctuary areas
pure, conducted the cultic rituals and observances, and
performed the great festival ceremonies for the public.
Some served as well in specialized agencies, such as
medicine or astronomy.
Soon after the unification of the kingdoms of Upper
and Lower Egypt in 3000 B.C.E., the priests were in ser-
vice in major religious centers throughout the nation.
Cultic rituals had been conducted in all regions before
the unification, but the centralization of the governmentpriests 309