Priests

The Egyptian priesthood seems to have been a very large and elastic order. Kings and governors, queens and prince es, all held priestly offices, and below those of high rank there were numberle grades of officials in connection with the various temples and services of the different gods. The ritual and services of the temples were elaborate, and there were perpetually recurring festivals which entailed a great amount of labour. From the earliest times we find that the priesthood was of importance, but the power of the priestly faction gradually increased during the Middle Empire, and under the New Empire it forms one of the most important elements of the kingdom. There were many prieste es, whose chief function seems to have been to sing and recite. Among priestly titles the following are the best known:—The *Sam* priest was the chief priest at Memphis. The *Hersheshta* was the diviner. The *Kher-heb* was a master of ceremonies. The *Setem*, the "prophet," the "purifier," and the "divine father," all ranked above the ordinary priest.