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Portrait of Maya

Maya

d. 1373

High Priest of Amun until at least year 4 of Akhenaten

High Priest of Amun
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About Maya

Maya was a high Priest of Amun.

Maya or May was a High Priest of Amun of ancient Egypt, until at least year 4 of Akhenaten.

Biography May is known from an expedition in year 4 to Wadi Wadi Hammamat. The purpose of the expedition was to quarry stone for the statue of the king.

Quote|regnal year 4, third month of inundation, day 10; under the majesty of the king of Upper and Lower Egypt Nefer-Khepheru-Re Waenre, the son of Re, Amenhotep; (the day) when the First Prophet of Amun, May, was charged with fetching basalt (for) the image of the Lord . . .

Aldred suggested that Meryptah had succeeded Ptahmose as High Priest of Amun and served towards the end of Amenhotep III's reign. And hence Maya would have been Meryptah's successor. Donald Redford speculates that Maya is short for Ptahmose and that Ptahmose served from the end of the reign of Amenhotep III until the beginning of the time of Akhenaten.

Death and burial Maya is not mentioned after year 4, and it is possible he died soon after this expedition. The tomb of May was identified in Dra' Abu el-Naga' as being Tomb K99.1 by a German team led by D. Polz. There is a statue of Maya, with placard that reads "Maya, Governor and Chief of the Priests of Lower Egypt, 1400 BC" at the Berlin Egyptian museum. A Chief of Priests of Lower Egypt would be head priest of the two religious centers of "Sais" and "On." https://www.alamy.com/berlin-germany-ancient-egyptian-seated-statue-of-maya-governor-and-chief-of-the-priests-wearing-the-gold-of-honour-neues-museum-new-kingdom-pe-image241818317.html

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Important facts

Died
1373
Occupation
High Priest of Amun
Positions held
High Priest of Amun
Also known as
Ptahmose

Frequently asked questions

Who was Maya?

High Priest of Amun until at least year 4 of Akhenaten

When did Maya die?

Maya died in 1373.

What was Maya's occupation?

Maya was a high Priest of Amun.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Maya

· Wikidata: Q6796644

· DBpedia: Maya (High Priest of Amun)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Maya. https://biography.guide/maya-high-priest-of-amun/

MLA: "Maya." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/maya-high-priest-of-amun/.

Chicago: "Maya." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/maya-high-priest-of-amun/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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