Abstract
This study aims to trace the possible fate of the family of the High Priest of Ptah after the Roman conquest in 30 BCE. The mysterious death of Imhotep / Padibastet IV created a clear rupture in the succession line.
At first, Roman authorities seemed to hesitate to appoint a new high priest of Memphis, for various reasons, and thus waited almost three years to install Pasherienamun II, the first cousin of Imhotep / Padibastet IV, at the temple of Ptah. This occurred simultaneously with the creation of new priestly office: "prophet of the son of Caesar." However, the embalmed body of Imhotep / Padibastet IV remained unburied until 23 BCE, which might indicate previous dysfunctional mutual relations between the primary and the secondary branches of the same family.