Khay (Vizier)

Chay was an Egyptian vizier of the 19th dynasty. His office area was Upper Egypt. He officiated at home in the 3rd to the 6th decade under Ramses II He was the successor of the vizier Paser. Neferrenpet was his successor.

Origin and family

Chay was the son of a military commander Haia and the singer of Amun Nubdjeret. He was married to Iam. Children are not known.

Importance

Chay was one of the most important official under Ramses II Prior to his promotion to the vizier, he was a senior asset manager ( jmj -r pr [ wr ] ). With this title he is, however, occupied only twice, when he was vizier. As vizier he wore the typical title of a public official and was head of the town, a priest of Maat, but also the first royal herald of the Lord of the Two Lands and fan-bearer at the right hand of the king.

As a herald of the king, he announced in the government years 30, 34, 37, 40, 42 and 45, the Sed - festival of the ruler. The fourth (Year 40) and fifth ( year 42) sed festival he proclaimed together with Khaemwaset, son of Ramses II and High Priest of Ptah. There are copies of letters received on ostraca at him, showing that he was the highest authority for the workers of Deir el- Medina. There is a letter of Nekropolenschreibers Qenherchepschef to the vizier, reminiscent of a gypsum delivery. A letter from Chay is addressed to the foreman Nebnefer and requesting it to comply with his plan, and that he should inquire of the Treasury to the payment of wages. There is also a letter from the Treasury superintendent Sethi on wage payments to workers of Deir el- Medina, which took place in the name of Chay.

Documents

This vizier is known by numerous monuments. Two statues were found in the Karnak temple at Thebes. Numerous objects come from Deirel - Medine and show the connection of the vizier with the workers there, who worked on the King 's grave. But there is also a door lintel from Qantir and a stele from Abydos. In Gebel Silsila he let in Speos (rock temple ) of Horemheb cut various stelae and statue niches in the rock.

His grave could not be located with certainty a long time, although there is some relief fragments from Thebes - West, probably originate from this. In 2013, the pyramid of his tomb was excavated in Thebes -West.