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demarcation of the official titles” were achieved.^48 He separates late
Middle Kingdom titles into seven categories: (1) Palace, (2) Treasury,
(3) Bureau of the Vizier, (4) Bureau of Fields, (5) Organization of
Labor, (6) Local Administration, (7) Military.^492.1.3.1.1 The complicated administrative and legal bureaucracy of
the Middle Kingdom, and into the Second Intermediate period, was
ultimately directed by the vizier.^50 At various times, the post was
possibly divided up into two positions: a vizier of Upper Egypt and
a vizier of Lower Egypt. This may have been the case only begin-
ning in the Late Middle Kingdom (Thirteenth Dynasty) and into the
New Kingdom.^51 The vizier seems to have appointed the holders of
the main administrative positions in the local governments.^52 The
vizier was also much concerned with public works.^53 Particular atten-
tion was naturally paid to the organization of manpower, under the
aegis of the “office of giving people.”^54 His bureaucracy was respon-
sible for the maintenance of the laws.^55 The vizier himself does not
seem to have made the laws; this was a prerogative of the king
alone. He presumably had an influential advisory function. P. Brooklyn
35.1446 indicates that the vizier could receive direct decrees from
the king, which ordered him to investigate legal matters.^56
According to Hayes, “The vizier appears as a kind of superior
court, reviewing the findings of the local ≈ 3 ≈ 3 .t courts and either
confirming or emending them.”^57 The vizier is called “Overseer of
the Six Great Houses,” that is, of the court system.^58 The local
officials would presumably have first attempted to deal with disputes,(^48) As listed in Quirke, “Regular Titles.. .,” 124.
(^49) Ibid., 116. See also Quirke, “Horn, Feather and Scale...”
(^50) Hayes, Papyrus.. ., 136. See also Gestermann, Kontinuität.. ., 147–53; Théodoridès,
“Rapport.. .,” 133–35; Quirke, Administration.. ., 58–61, who does not believe that
the vizier ever dominated the king in the Thirteenth Dynasty.
(^51) Quirke,Administration.. ., 4. See also Valloggia, “Vizirs.. .,” 132–34.
(^52) Van den Boorn, Vizier.. ., 215; LÄ3, col. 920 (“Landesverwaltung”).
(^53) LÄ4, col. 729; Helck, Wirtschaftsgeschichte.. ., 173.
(^54) Quirke, Administration.. ., 110–13. See also Menu, Recherches.. ., 116–21;
Théodoridès, “Rapports.. .,” 135–37.
(^55) Hayes, Papyrus.. ., 143.
(^56) Ibid., 135–36. Compare also Théodoridès, “Rapport.. .,” 116–17.
(^57) Hayes, Papyrus.. ., 141; Théodoridès, “Vente.. .,” 60; Lorton, “Legal and
Social Institutions.. .,” 355.
(^58) Allen, “Some Theban Officials.. .,” 13. See also Vittmann, “Hieratic Texts,”
38; Quirke, Administration.. ., 69.
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