Horemheb’s choice of Zais for High Priest of Amun-Ra, for instance, was not challenged by him although it was not based on any considerations connected with religion. He was a man who had proved himself a vigorous and efficient collector of tithes and taxes, and was a good organiser and administrator. Such a man was necessary to administer the huge estates given to Amun-Ra by the Crown, to control the thousands of priests throughout the country, and to supervise the labour force and acquisition of materials required for the extensive temple building programme Horemheb envisaged. As priest he was required to be able to quote by rote many hundreds of ritual texts, but most of these he had mastered during his early training as a scribe — for to rise to any kind of responsible official status
