pastophorus

From Latin pastophorus, from Hellenistic Ancient Greek παστοφόρος (pastophóros), from παστός (pastós, “ceremonial curtain”) + -φόρος (-phóros, “bearer”), a loose calque of Demotic jrj-ꜥꜣ, from Egyptian jrj-ꜥꜣ (“doorkeeper”), from jrj (“keeper”) + ꜥꜣ (“door”). An old interpretation of the Greek term as ‘shrine-bearer’ is now rejected.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pastəˈfɔːɹəs/

pastophorus (plural pastophori)

1. (historical) A type of lesser priest in ancient Egypt, originally serving as a doorkeeper to a temple.

• Friedhelm Hoffmann and Joachim Friedrich Quack (2014), “Pastophoros” in A. M. Dodson, J. J. Johnston, W. Monkhouse (Hg.), A good scribe and an exceedingly wise man: Studies in Honour of W. J. Tait (GHP Egyptology 21), London, pages 127—155.