Shemay
| Shemay | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vizier of Egypt Nomarch of the 5th nome of Upper Egypt | ||||||
Reunited Coptos decrees “p” and “q”, addressed to Shemay's two sons. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Acc. No. 14.7.12) | ||||||
| Egyptian name |
| |||||
| Successor | Idy | |||||
| Dynasty | 8th Dynasty | |||||
| Pharaoh | Neferkaure, Neferkauhor | |||||
| Burial | Mastaba at Kom el-Koffar | |||||
| Spouse | Nebyet | |||||
| Children | Idy unnamed son | |||||
Shemay (also Shemai) was an ancient Egyptian official and later vizier toward the end of the 8th Dynasty (22nd century BCE) during the First Intermediate Period, mainly known for being the beneficiary of most of the Coptos Decrees. His career has been interpreted as a glaring sign of the extreme weakness of the central power, forced to bestow great privileges to maintain the loyalty of powerful local governors. Shemay is buried in a mudbrick mastaba just south of Coptos.