- Merka -

Merka was a high official who lived during the reign of the Horus Qa'a, at the end of the 1st Dynasty. Through his elaborate titulary, we learn that he was Se(te)m-priest and a member of the aristocracy of his time. It has been proposed that he may have been a member of the royal family, but this is solely based on the unfounded assumption that the highest offices were reserved for the royal kinsmen.

Some of his religious titles may connect Merka to the cult of Anubis. He was also a priest of the goddess Neith, who, at this period was one of the most important divinities of the Ancient Egyptian pantheon. This too has been interpreted as an indication that Merka was a member of the royal family.

Merka's primary administrative function was 'administrator of the desert', which would have put him in charge of the guarding of the desert frontiers of Egypt and the organisation of expeditions into the desert to obtain precious stones and other materials.

Among his more worldly titles, we find that he was a 'follower of the King' and a 'captain of the royal barque'. He was also in charge of the administration of the palace.

Merka was buried in an impressive mastaba at Saqqara, n° 3505.