The Role of the Vizier The vizier was traditionally the head of the government administrators, the court officials. However as his power grew a vizier might also be the chief priest. One of the later titles held by a vizier was the High Priest of Heliopolis. Important documents were only considered legal if they had the seal of the vizier. The role of the vizier was therefore quite varied and changed through the various generations. Through the ages of Ancient Egypt the Vizier was responsible for the following: - The appointment of government officials
- Master of Works for the royal monuments including labor and resources
- Hearing major legal disputes
- Controlling civil order
- Controlling the food supply and distribution
- Conducting a census of the population in order to collect taxes
- Taxation
- Managing important industries
- Controller of the Archives - All important legal issues were documented including wills, trials, deeds, census lists, conscription lists and inventories
- Recording rainfall and water levels of the Nile - Nilometers were gauges which were set up to measure water levels. Levels above and below the average indicated catastrophes such as floods or famine. Good years indicated the level of taxes which could be obtained from the farmers
The Vizier Imhotep A famous Egyptian vizier was called Imhotep. Imhotep was the vizier and architect of Pharaoh Djoser and was responsible for the famous Step Pyramid. Imhotep achieved such a high position in the court that he was later deified. Imhotep was regarded as the Son of Ptah, the Lord of all Builders. Scribes began a tradition of sprinkling a drop from their water bowl in honor of Imhotep whenever they started work. The signature of Imhotep the famous vizier and architect can still be read today. The hieroglyphic signature of Imhotep can be found in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo on the base of a statue of King Djoser. The Grand Vizier Ay The name of the vizier during the reign of the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten was Ay. He was believed to be a native Egyptian from Akhmim. Ay was the son of Yuya, who was a nobleman in the court of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and was the father of Tiye, the chief Queen of Amenhotep. So although he was a commoner Ay was raised in the royal court circles of the New Kingdom was the uncle of the heretic Pharaoh Akhenaten. He rose to become the Grand vizier of Tutankhamun, King Tut, and after the boy-king's untimely death became Pharaoh of Egypt. The Vizier & Egyptian Society - The Social Pyramid of Power The Pyramid of power, which provides and overview of the social structure and jobs undertaken in Ancient Egypt was as follows: The Pharaoh The Great Royal Wife Members of the immediate Royal Family Vizier Noblemen Army Officers Court Officials Priests and Priestesses Scribes Artists Craftsmen Foot Soldiers Labourers Vizier Each section of this Egyptian website addresses all topics and provides interesting facts and information about the Golden Age of Egypt. The Sitemap provides full details of all of the information and facts provided about the fascinating subject of Egypt, the Ancient Egyptians and of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, King Tut. |