Tefibi (or Itj-ibj – ''It(.i)ib(.i)''
[Donald B. Spanel, in Donald B. Redford (ed), ''The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt'' vol. 1, Oxford University Press, 2001, pp. 154-6.] – in a more modern reading) was an
ancient Egyptian
nomarch
A nomarch ( grc, νομάρχης, egy, ḥrj tp ꜥꜣ Great Chief) was a provincial governor in ancient Egypt; the country was divided into 42 provinces, called nomes (singular , plural ). A nomarch was the government official responsib ...
of the 13th ''
nomos'' of
Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt ( ar, صعيد مصر ', shortened to , , locally: ; ) is the southern portion of Egypt and is composed of the lands on both sides of the Nile that extend wikt:downriver, upriver from Lower Egypt in the north to Nubia in the south. ...
(''"the Upper
Sycamore"'') during the
10th Dynasty (c. 21st century BCE, during the
First Intermediate Period). In addition, he also was ''hereditary prince, count, wearer of the royal seal, sole companion'' and ''high priest of
Wepwawet''. The main source about his life came from his biography, inscribed on the "tomb III" in
Asyut
AsyutAlso spelled ''Assiout'' or ''Assiut'' ( ar, أسيوط ' , from ' ) is the capital of the modern Asyut Governorate in Egypt. It was built close to the ancient city of the same name, which is situated nearby. The modern city is located at ...
.
It is generally assumed that Tefibi was the second of a trio of related nomarchs datable to the
Herakleopolite period; he was likely preceded by his father Khety and followed by his son, also named
Khety.
[
]
Biography
He was member of a long line of nomarchs in Asyut with strong bonds of loyalty and friendship towards the Herakleopolite dynasty, and seems that he continued the policy of good governance pursued by his father Khety I: in fact, Tefibi praised the safety and the respect of the laws in his ''nomos''.
When the Thebans extended their influences on Thinis and Abydos Abydos may refer to:
*Abydos, a progressive metal side project of German singer Andy Kuntz
* Abydos (Hellespont), an ancient city in Mysia, Asia Minor
* Abydos (''Stargate''), name of a fictional planet in the '' Stargate'' science fiction universe ...
, the Herakleopolite pharaoh
Pharaoh (, ; Egyptian: '' pr ꜥꜣ''; cop, , Pǝrro; Biblical Hebrew: ''Parʿō'') is the vernacular term often used by modern authors for the kings of ancient Egypt who ruled as monarchs from the First Dynasty (c. 3150 BC) until th ...
(who is generally believed to be Wahkare Khety) and Tefibi rallied their troops, and swiftly regained Thinis. Their undisciplined soldiers sacked the sacred necropolis, as reported by the king himself in the '' Teaching for King Merykare''.[Hayes, op. cit., p. 466-467.]
Tefibi died during the reign of king Merykare, who installed Khety II, son of the deceased, as nomarch in Asyut.
References
Further reading
* Spanel, Donald B., "The Herakleopolitan Tombs of Kheti I, Jt(.j)jb(.j), and Kheti II at Asyut", ''Orientalia'', 58, 1989, pp. 301–14.
External links
The Biography of Tefibi
{{authority control
Nomarchs
People of the Tenth Dynasty of Egypt
Ancient Egyptian priests
Ancient Egyptian royal sealers