While Shepenwepet II’s unique sed iconography may have signified her investiture with priestly duties, it was not until the advent of Saite rule in Egypt that a woman finally assumed the title and duties of the High Priest of Amun. In 585 Bc, Ankhnesneferibre, daughter of Psametik II became the first Egyptian woman to attain the high distinction of being, formally and officially, known as the High Priest(ess) of Amun. This distinction was also shared by her heiress apparent, Nitocris (B), daughter of king Amasis, who became a High Priest(ess) of Amun in 569 BC or shortly thereafter.1 While the Saite princesses’ assumption of the priesthood represents a clear break from previous Egyptian practice, it may be understood as the culmination of a long process that had begun with the installation of Shepenwepet I, and gained momentum under Nubian rule. Indeed, the ritual scenes discussed in Part II clearly indicate that Ankhnesneferibre’s appointment to the high priesthood merely gave formal expression to an already existing situation. What exactly prompted this acquiescence is not exactly clear, although an understanding of the relationship between the High Priest and the King on the one hand and the interaction of the God’s Wife with the palace and the priesthood on the other may prove helpful. Indeed, the Saite princesses’ assumption of the priesthood may be viewed as a direct result of the Saite rulers’ “secularism;”2 A secularism that was manifest, in part, in a marked lack of generosity towards the temple establishments.
World History
