Nesisti-Pedubast (simply known as Nesisti; c.310 BC – 248 BC) was an ancient Egyptian noble and the earliest known High Priest of Ptah at Memphis during the Ptolemaic era. Born around 310 BC or earlier, he was chosen by Ptolemy II to officiate the newly established cults of his deified royal sisters, Arsinoe II and Philotera, which was recorded in the Sais stela.
| Nesisti-Pedubast | |
|---|---|
 Sealing naming Nesisti, now in Metropolitan museum | |
| Successor | Pedubast I |
| Pharaoh | Ptolemy II |
| Born | c. 310 BC or earlier |
| Died | Before 19 March 248 BC Memphis, Egypt |
| Father | Anemhor I |
| Mother | Renpet-neferet |
| Children | Anemhor II, Pedubast I, Khonsiu, Nefertiti, Neferibre (possibly) |
Biography
editBorn to the priest Anemhor I and his wife Renpet-neferet,[1] Nesisti-Pedubast held an array of prominent titles, including prophet of Ptah, prophet of the living Apis, sm priest, and director of works in the golden mansion.[2]
According to his epitaph on the funerary stela BM 379, he governed work in the Domain of Ptah starting in year 23 of Ptolemy II (263/262 BC) and stated that he carried out his duties without failure as the favorite of the king and his courtiers.[3][4]
Ptolemy II chose him to serve as the prophet for the mortuary cults of the king's deified sisters: Philotera, and Arsinoe II.[1] This royal assignment closely tied the Memphite priesthood to the ruling Hellenistic dynasty. Within the traditional Memphite temple complex; he served as the prophet of Horus, prophet of the gods of the window-of-appearance, and prophet of the statues in the shrine of Ramses.[2]
Nesisti-Pedubast married at least twice during his lifetime. With his wife Nefersobek, whom he married in or before 291/290 BC, he fathered Anemhor II, who was born in 289 BC, and possibly another son named Neferibre. With another wife, also named Renpet-neferet, he had a child named Khonsiu.[5]
He had at least two other children of unknown maternity: a son named Pedubast I and a daughter named Nefertiti. Through Nefertiti's marriage to Ankh-Hapi, a prominent Letopolis priest, Nesisti-Pedubast successfully forged a strategic familial alliance with the powerful High Priests of Letopolis.[5]
His son Anemhor II, would be appointed by Ptolemy III as "superintendent of the priests of all the gods and goddesses of Upper and Lower Egypt".[6]
Nesisti-Pedubast died before 19 March 248 BC (37th regnal year of Ptolemy II) and was likely succeeded in his high priestly office by his son Pedubast I.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Kubisch, Sabine; Klinkott, Hilmar (31 December 2023). Power of the Priests: Political Use of Religious Knowledge. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG. p. 292. ISBN 978-3-11-067632-7.
- 1 2 "Egyptian Texts : Epitaph of Nesisti". www.attalus.org. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ Reymond, From the records of a priestly family from Memphis (ÄA 38) 1981: p.60-70, Pl.I .
- ↑ Maystre, Les grands pretres de Ptah de Memphis (OBO 113) 1992: p.389-392
- 1 2 3 "Nesisti-Pedubast HPM". www.instonebrewer.com. Retrieved 25 May 2026.
- ↑ Wilkinson, Toby (1 April 2025). Gli ultimi faraoni (in Italian). Rizzoli. ISBN 978-88-318-1852-0.