“ Each nome possessed its own god or group of gods, worshiped in the local temple, as also its own myths and religious traditions. The government of the nome was a copy, in miniature, of that of the State. At the head stood the nomarch, or governor, and under him was a regular gradation of officials, each responsible to his immediate superior. In the earlier period, each nome had its own treasury, its own courts of justice, and its own military establishment. ”

“ Under the feudal system of the Middle Empire, the nomarchs were the heads of ancient noble families, and were prompt to take advantage of any weakness in the Central Government to make themselves practically independent princes. ”