The closest assistants of the pharaoh were high officials

For forty centuries, one of the most powerful states of that era - Ancient Egypt - flourished on the banks of the Nile. His culture laid the foundation for the development of the entire world civilization, and the management system became the model for many subsequent monarchies. The rulers, who during their lifetime were considered gods, created a harmonious and rational vertical of power, which enabled them to control all aspects of the life of their people with maximum efficiency.

Higher levels of state power

The governance structure of Ancient Egypt was a complex system, based on a strict hierarchy, which provided unconditional submission to a superior commander. It was a kind of pyramid, at the top of which was placed the "god-like" ruler - the pharaoh. In his hands was concentrated all state power.

But it was impossible to manage the state alone. One step below was the jati - this is the supreme dignitary, the closest assistant to the pharaoh. For four thousand years of ancient Egyptian history, the official functions of this official have undergone significant changes.

Duties of the supreme helper

If at first he was the high priest of the capital, who, in addition to communicating with the gods, was responsible for managing the household of the pharaoh, then in the course of time his sphere of activity expanded considerably. These energetic and enterprising people concentrated in their hands the management of all affairs of the state.

The supreme assistant of the pharaoh in ancient Egypt, basking in the rays of the glory of his sun-like master, had, like him, unlimited power. It is not hard to guess that this position was occupied by the closest relatives of the pharaoh or, as an exception, the most dexterous and titled representatives of the highest aristocratic families. Over time, the term "jati" was ousted by the Arabic word "vizier", but it did not cause any significant changes in the life of the senior official.

Documents preserved in which the official powers of the Jati-Vizier were listed in detail were preserved. Among them, such important duties as the publication of laws, raising in rank, the establishment of the boundaries of territories belonging to large landowners, as well as police functions. Being chairman of six judicial chambers that functioned in Ancient Egypt, he exercised control over this side of state life.

Lower-level officials: functions and title of the position

The closest assistants of the pharaoh were three. They formed the next step of the office ladder and were the elite of society. Their names are found on the walls of ancient temples. By seniority, the closest assistants to the pharaoh were the treasurer, the chief of work and the manager of the "house of arms." The scope of each of them was strictly limited. The Treasurer was in charge of all the movable and immovable property of the state. His duties included control over the strict observance of all Pharaoh's economic decrees and tax collections.

The title of the position of Pharaoh's closest assistants, standing on the same level as the treasurer, fully reveals the essence of their activities. The head of the work was responsible for the serviceability of irrigation and irrigation systems, which in a hot arid climate was a very important function, and the manager of the "house of arms" was engaged in material support for the army.

Administrative apparatus of the past centuries

Written memorials of the time testify to what the grandees were doing in the service of the pharaoh. One of the most common forms of their activities was participation in all sorts of councils and meetings. They sat down on a variety of occasions. These are issues related to the solution of economic, political and social problems. The closest assistants of the pharaoh were numerous numerous grassroots organizations, each of which performed administrative functions at its own level.

The governors of the pharaoh

As a result of the expansion of the territories of neighboring countries, the area of Ancient Egypt expanded considerably, and it included numerous provinces. In them the closest assistants of the pharaoh were the rulers appointed by them, called nomarchs. These local tsars, acting in all cases of life on behalf of the supreme ruler of the country, had virtually unlimited power. Taking advantage of the distance from the capital and the complexity of monitoring their activities, they sometimes abused their position and took the path called corruption in our day.

It is interesting to note that under Amenhotep III (XIV century BC) the closest assistants of the pharaoh were drafted and sent out to the field special instructions in which the lower officials and their scribes set out the rules for dealing with classified documents, the use of seals, and fixed the time for consideration of complaints. A special place in them was assigned to transferring punishments for divulging state secrets.

A look into the past

Deciphering the written monuments of that era allowed to present in full the picture of the state structure of Ancient Egypt and find out what the grandees were doing in the service of the pharaoh. From them it became known that, along with many positive aspects of the management structure, there were very significant shortcomings in it. One of them, for example, was the lack of a clear division between the powers of judicial and administrative bodies. However, in spite of everything, the state created on the banks of the ancient Nile occupied an honorable place in world history.