Medjay

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The Medjay (also Medjai, Mazoi, Egyptian mDA.y)–from mDA,[1] represents the name Ancient Egyptians gave to a region in northern Sudan–where an ancient people of Nubia inhabited. They became part of the Ancient Egyptian military as scouts and minor workers.

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[edit] Recorded history

The first mentions of the Medjay date back to the Old Kingdom, when they were listed among other Nubian peoples by Weni who served under Pepi I.[2] During the Middle Kingdom some Medjay were drafted into the Egyptian army, were part of the garrisons in the Egyptian fortifications in Nubia, and patrolled the deserts as a kind of gendarmerie, while others remained hostile to the invaders from the north.[3]

At the beginning of the New Kingdom some Medjay joined the Egyptian police force. From these Nubian units a newer meaning for the term "Medjay" was derived referring to the police in general. The title "Medjay" was held by native Egyptians in the later New Kingdom.[4]

In their historic roles of enemies and supporters of the Egyptian state the Medjay had an intricate influence on Egyptian culture for more than a thousand years. Some very important tasks were overseen by Medjay officers. They were instrumental in the protection of Thebes and the royal complex at Deir al-Madinah.[5] They also took part in Kamose's campaign against the Hyksos.[6]

[edit] In popular culture

In the fictional film The Mummy, the Medjai were the bodyguards of the Egyptian Pharaohs, with the name thereafter being used to describe the society comprised of their descendants who were pledged to prevent anyone finding the mummy of high priest Imhotep and bringing him back from the dead. In the film, the Medjai appear to be Muslims, as they takbir before fighting the Warriors of Anubis, but continue to follow some beliefs of Ancient Egypt.

[edit] Bibliography

  • J. H. Breasted, Ancient Records of Egypt, part One, Chicago 1906
  • Katheryn A. Bard, Encyclopedia of the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt, Routledge 1999, ISBN 0415185890
  • Ian Shaw, The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt, Oxford University Press 2000, ISBN 0192802933
  • M. L. Bierbrier, The Tomb-Builders of the Pharaohs, American Univ in Cairo Press 1993, ISBN 9774242106

[edit] References and footnotes

  1. ^ Erman & Grapow, Wörterbuch der ägyptischen Sprache, 2, 186.1-2
  2. ^ Breasted, op.cit., §§ 317, 324
  3. ^ Bard, op.cit., p.486
  4. ^ Bard, op.cit., p.486
  5. ^ Bierbrier, op.cit., p.39
  6. ^ Shaw, op.cit., p.201

[edit] External links

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