Nomarch is the Greek term for Egyptian provincial governor - the equivalent Egyptian title is Hery-tepkh` (Great [or High] Lord). They were the officials responsible for administering the provinces (Gk. Nomos), Egy. Sepat [pl. Hesepu]), and given the length of Egyptian history, the range of their authority and autonomy varied widely from era to era. At times (especially the early First Intermediate Period to the rise of the New Kingdom at the end of the Second Intermediate Period), they had nearly plenary power within their districts; in other periods of strong centralized control they were more in the nature of bureaucrats and functionaries. At times the position was hereditary, held by a clan of local magnates, but nomarchs could also be appointed by the pharaoh. When the central government was weak – at times of foreign invasion or civil war, for example – rulers of individual nomes would quite frequently assert themselves and establish hereditary lines of succession. Conflicts between these different hereditary nomarchies were common during, for example, the First and Second Intermediate Periods. At times nomarchs, such as Mentuhotep of Thebes, were able to assert their control over the entire country as pharaoh. The division of the kingdom into nomes can be documented as far back as the Old Kingdom (in the 3rd millennium BCE) and continued even up until the Roman period.

Anpu (Cynopolis) is in the vicinity of modern Samalut, about 125 miles (200km) south of Cairo.

Atef-Khent (Asyut) is on the west bank of the Nile, some 200 miles (320km) south of Cairo, near modern Asyut.

Atef-Pehu (Crocodilopolis) is a principle town in the Fayyum Depression, a low-lying marshy area - a lake in very ancient times - west of the Nile. The chief town was located where modern Al-Fayyum is now, 24 miles (38km) west of the river and around 60 miles (96km) miles south of Cairo.

Khent-Abt (Tanis) in the eastern Delta, about 10 miles (16km) southwest from the coastal inlet Lake Manzilah and about 72 miles (116km) northeast of Cairo - the town of San al-Hajar al-Qibliyah is just north of the site. The governors from 1069 BCE-945 BCE regarded themselves as the XXI dynasty, but in practical fact their writ only extended across parts of northern Egypt. Upper Egypt was effectively under the High Priests of Amun, at Thebes.

Meh-Makhte (Oryx) between Un and Anpu, roughly where modern Al-Minya stands today. In the extreme southeast corner of this Nome is located the famous rock tombs near Beni Hassan.

Min (Panopolis) located near modern Akhmim, some 240 miles (386km) south of Cairo.

Qesy (Cusæ) some 180 miles (290km) south of Cairo, near modern Al-Qusiyah.

Sopdu (Per-Sopdu) in the eastern Delta, about 43 miles (70km) northeast of Cairo, near modern Saft el-Hinna.

Ten (Hierakonopolis) the third Nome, some 40 miles (64km) south of Thebes.

Ta-Seti (Elephantine) the first Nome of Upper Egypt, and thus the traditional frontier between the empire and the Nubian highlands. It was based at Elephantine, for the First Cataract - modern Aswan, some 120 miles (192km) south of ancient Thebes. Harkhuf undertook a number of voyages to Nubia to secure trade routes and returned with stories that entertained the populace and fascinated no less a personage than Pharaoh Pepi II.

Theb-Ka (Tjebennetjer, Sebennytos) in the northern Delta, near modern Samannud, 62 miles (100km) north of Cairo. This district is famed as the home of the priest Manetho, writer of an extensive history of Egypt down to Ptolomaic times.

Thes-Hor (Edfu) the second nome of Upper Egypt, located between Hierokonopolis to the north and the First Cataract at Aswan, to the south.

Un (Khmunu) roughly equidistant between modern Cairo and ancient Thebes. This Nome contains the El-Amarna site, capital of the 14th century monotheist heresiarch Pharaoh, Akhnaten.