The police in ancient Egypt
Like any legal system in ancient Egypt, police officers and guards whose mission was to protect and serve, prevent crimes, arrest criminals, and guard the land.
Unfortunately, we do not know much about the police and guards in ancient Egypt. Still, there are some references and information in historical records, such as the scenes on the walls of graves, which can still provide us with an idea of ​​the ancient Egyptian police and their duties.
First, we must remember that the history of ancient Egypt is very long, so of course, laws were established since the establishment of the old state, and with the development of these laws overtime during the era of families, the duties of those who were charged with enforcing the law evolved.
During the Old Kingdom, it appears that the police and guards were formed mainly by the locals who responded to security issues; for example, protection of property, assets, and cemeteries was required, and therefore those who could afford the costs of guarding their graves sought the help of the guards, after which the police force became more They are organized and started to grow as paramilitary units. At first, they were allocated mainly to the border and protection patrol, and they mainly consist of the “Medjai”. They are also known as the Midjai, concerning Mada, which is the name that the ancient Egyptians gave to the area north of Sudan that was inhabited by the people of Nuba in the past.
The Medjai was part of the ancient Egyptian military system as reconnaissance and scouting soldiers. With the development of the military system, they became an essential place in the military formations and formed a difference in the various branches of the police and army.
One of the things that the ancient Nubians were famous for was that they were stiff warriors, especially in bow throws, and these were combined with Egyptian society. They had a great role in King Camus’s war against the Hyksos – an essential turning point in ancient Egyptian history. It gained Their role as combatants and the ancient Egyptians in service in the army and became police and guards throughout the country.
The increasing importance of the role of the Madagai can be highlighted through the era of the modern state. The word Medajai was used to describe any policemen, including those of non-Nubian origin. There was a hierarchy of the ancient Egyptian police in the modern state, so the head of Medajai was (Chief of Police), and under his command are members of the Nubian policemen. Each region has a police chief. In some cases, the army has assumed police duties upon need, such as assembling special units for specific missions, such as missions in charge of minerals and turquoise in the Sinai and gold in the Sinai Eastern Desert.
Most of the policemen and guards were armed. Some of them had baboon monkeys and trained police dogs cooperating in the arrest of criminals, although foreigners, whether immigrants or prisoners of war, were integrated into the police force – especially Nubian Madagai as mentioned, but positions The highest official was restricted to the Egyptians … the chief of police was most likely chosen by the king or minister.
Regardless of the normal duties to protect civilians and property, the police accompanied tax collectors to ensure that peasants paid their taxes in full and on time. Sometimes they were also responsible for delivering important or sensitive messages to government officials … and they were tasked with patrolling the markets in an attempt to catch thieves, as they were charged with protecting graves from theft and history mentioned one of the most mentioned crimes in ancient Egypt – theft – Including the tomb robbery, cemetery thieves were trying to take over the elite tombs full of treasures that were a great temptation even for the people assigned to guard them.