When I saw this photograph I was intrigued and decided that I had to find out more about it, because it is such an unusual image of the King Ramses X1 in the company of the High Priest of Amun named Amenhotep. The scene is at Karnak Temple on the 8th Pylon facing the sacred lake. Amenhotep was the High Priest of Amun towards the end of the Twentieth Dynasty of Egypt, serving under Ramesses IX, Ramesses X and Ramesses XI
In all temple and tomb reliefs the king is always shown in large relief compared to his subjects or enemies, this symbolically portrays his strength, power and influence, so to see a priest represented as tall as the King indicates the unusual deterioration of the Kings authority and the rise in power of the Priests of Amun. The Relief shows Amenhotep celebrating as he is being dressed by symbolically smaller men, and Ramses X1 is awarding him with gold and necklaces. Amenhotep wasn't always in favour with the king, as he was ousted from office by the king with the aid of Nubian soldiers under command of Pinehesy, Viceroy of Nubia, for overstepping his authority. This action is often referred to as 'the war against the High Priest' or 'the suppression of the High Priest Amenhotep'.
Ramses XI was the tenth and final king of the 20th dynasty of Egypt. He ruled Egypt for approximately 29-33 years, during his reign the state of Egypt declined, with civil conflicts chaos and insecurity. Tomb robbery was prevalent all over Waset (Thebes) as Egypt's fortunes declined and her Asiatic empire was lost. At Medinet Habu the Mortuary Temple of Ramses 111 they held a Kebnet (court) where court cases were held for the tomb robberies.
Ramesses XI died in obscurity his tomb (KV4) that had been prepared for him in the Valley of the Kings was left unfinished as Ramesses XI instead arranged to have himself buried away from Waset, after his death the workers village of Dier El Medina was abandoned as there was no further need for it's services in Waset
From the 21st dynasty the High priests of Amun held such power and influence that they were effectively the rulers of Upper Egypt from 1080 to c. 943 BC. They owned two-thirds of all the temple lands in Egypt and 90 percent of her ships plus many other resources, consequently, the Amun priests were as powerful as a Pharaoh
I would like to thank Mohamed M Fawey & Shahhat Wannan excellent Egyptologists & Tour Guides in Luxor for their advice and help for my research into this BLOG
