Serving the Mendesian Ram in Memphis for Generations: A Hitherto Unknown Memphite Temple Family under the Saitic and Achaemenid Dynasties.

The aim of this paper is to reconstruct and analyse the genealogical tree of a hitherto unknown temple family that was active in the Memphite area during the 26th (Saitic) and 27th (Achaemenid) Dynasties. By studying and comparing the inscriptional evidence available in the vast epigraphic corpus from the Memphite Serapeum, which in fact is the richest source of information for both regional and local family networks, we can obtain valuable insights into six successive generations of this family, spanning from the mid-seventh to the early fifth centuries BC. Although the eastern Nile Delta was the main cultic hub for worship of Banebdjed, all documented members of this family fulfilled different roles in serving Ptah, Sokar, and Banebdjed in Memphis. The hereditary nature of these positions persisted through multiple generations, whereas the family's position and status appear to remain intact into the late reign of Darius I, the second Persian king of Egypt, at which point the available source material ceases. Ultimately, various family members formed marital unions within their temple community by marrying the daughters and sons of other local temple officials, while carefully adhering to the preexisting familial onomastic traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]