Bay (chancellor)

Bay
Chancellor
Chancellor Bay on the doorjamb of the Amada temple, Nubia, shown adoring the cartouche of Siptah
Dynasty	19th Dynasty
Pharaoh	Siptah
Burial	KV13 (intended)

Bay, also called Ramesse Khamenteru (died 1192 BC), was an important Asiatic official in ancient Egypt, who rose to prominence and high office under Seti II Userkheperure Setepenre and later became an influential powerbroker in the closing stages of the 19th Dynasty. He used to be possibly identified with Irsu^[1] (alt. Arsu, Iarsu, Yarsu) mentioned in the Great Harris Papyrus,^[2] although no contemporary source connects Bay with Irsu and the connection has since been disproven due to the differences in the years that they died.

Bay's importance is emphasized by the fact that he was given permission, possibly by Seti II but more probably by Siptah, to construct his own tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings (KV13). His tomb was clearly constructed as part of a triad of tombs, including that of the Pharaoh Siptah and Queen Twosret. This was an unprecedented privilege, the likes of which were rarely accorded to a commoner, let alone a foreigner (though previous exceptions, such as that of Yuya, have occurred). It is possible that Bay was accorded this tomb because he was a relation of Siptah's mother, a Canaanite concubine of Seti II, or perhaps even of Amenmesse. His tomb was later usurped under the Twentieth Dynasty by princes Amenhirkopshef, a son of Ramesses III, and Mentuherkhepshef, a son of Ramesses VI.^[3]