Royal sealer (Ancient Egypt)

In the late Middle Kingdom, it was revived as a ranking title borne by many of the highest officials in the court.

[4] The appearance of this office coincides with a step change in the sophistication and complexity of Egypt's administrative organisation.

[7] In the Third Dynasty under Pharaoh Djoser, it was the main title held by Imhotep, the architect of the Step Pyramid, showing that it continued to be one of the preeminent offices of Egypt.

At the same time, the position of overseer of sealed things (ỉmy-r ḫtmt) was created as head of the economic administration with equal status to the vizier.

It is often linked with specific powerful roles, like the overseer of the enclosure (ỉmy-r ḫnrt, responsible for the organisation of corvee labour throughout the country), the commander of the ruler's crew (in charge of the royal guard),[13] and the nomarchs.

[16] This becomes more common during the Second Intermediate Period and coincides with an increasing role of high priests in the Pharaoh's central administration.