Mery-Maat, an Eighteenth Dynasty iry ‘3 n pr ptḥ from Memphis and His Hypothetical Family

A newly published stela, Cairo JE 27947, reveals that the Memphite temple of Ptah held significant economic and administrative importance during the late Eighteenth Dynasty, challenging previous assumptions that this role emerged only in the Late Period. The stela, dated to the reign of Amenhotep III, commemorates Mery-Maat, a guardian of Ptah's estate, and his son Ibeby, a chief servant. This discovery extends the known timeline of administrative positions linked to the temple, including the title iry-‘3 n pr Ptḥ, which was previously documented only for the Twenty-Second and Twenty-Sixth Dynasties. The study reconstructs three generations of an unknown Memphite family, providing insights into their roles within the temple's hierarchy. Through iconographical, stylistic, epigraphical, and palaeographical analysis, the research sheds light on the long-term development of Ptah's temple and its enduring influence during ancient Egypt's New Kingdom.

Metawi, R. (2015). Mery-Maat, an Eighteenth Dynasty iry ’3 n pr ptḥ from Memphis and His Hypothetical Family. The Journal of Egyptian Archaeology, 101(1), 281–295. https://doi.org/10.1177/030751331510100114