Sarcophagus of Nana, Priest of God Ptah

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The High Priest of Ptah was sometimes called the Greatest of the Masters of the Craftsmen, a title that highlighted Ptah's role as patron god of craftsmen. This prestigious office was situated in Memphis, Lower Egypt, where the temple of Ptah stood tall, dedicated to Ptah, his consort Sekhmet, and their son Nefertem. High priests of Ptah are documented as far back as the Fourth Dynasty, with a notable example being the nobleman Debhen's tomb inscription describing Pharaoh Menkaure's visit to the pyramid construction site. The pharaoh was accompanied by a naval commander and two high priests of Ptah, underscoring their importance. Initially, there were two High Priests of Ptah, but it is believed that during Pepi I's reign, these offices merged into one. In the Saqqara tomb of Sabu called Thety, the owner proudly claimed that Pharaoh appointed him as the sole High Priest of Memphis, with responsibility for the temple of "Ptah-South-of-His-Wall" in all its aspects. A massive temple complex from Ramesses II's time still stands at Mit Rahina, a site where excavations have been hindered due to its proximity to the modern town. The Temple of Ptah from this era was one of Egypt's largest temple complexes, but only a fraction of it has been unearthed.