Priest

This article is specifically about priests in ancient Egyptian religion.

A Priest (神官 Shinkan) is a religious figure in ancient Egypt in Yu-Gi-Oh! media. They serve as caretakers of the gods, with the position available to both men and women.

Localization

In the English anime, the term "Priest" is not used. In Seto's first appearance in the English anime, he is called a Sorcerer, rather than a Priest. Later in the series, Guardian or Sacred Guardian is used for the High Priests, with the exception of the High Priest of Darkness, who is instead called the Great Shadow Magus.

In the English version of Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories, Priests are called Mages, High Priests are called High Mages, and Royal Guard Priests are called Royal Mages.

Types of Priests

High Priest

See also: Sacred Guardians

High Priests (大神官 Dai Shinkan) directly served the Pharaoh. Following the creation of the Millennium Items, a Pharaoh typically had six High Priests, with each one holding a Millennium Item, while the seventh item, the Millennium Puzzle was held by the Pharaoh.

The High Priests duties included protecting the Pharaoh. Individuals also had duties in protecting the royal tombs, protecting temples, leading armies, and deciding the fate of criminals. As Millennium Item holders, they were capable of summoning ka from stone slabs in the Shrine of Wedju, while also being able to summon their own personal ka.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories, the High Priests do not demonstrate the same loyalty to the Pharaoh. Each one is tasked with guarding a temple and has another priest serving under them. The chief High Priest, Heishin, stole six of the Millennium Items, rebelled against the royal family, and passed five of the items on to the other High Priests to carry out his political agenda. When Dueled, each High Priest and their subordinate uses a terrain, reflecting the nature of their temple.

High Priest of Darkness

The High Priest of Darkness (闇の大神官 Yami no Dai Shinkan), also known as the High Priest of Shadows in the English manga, was a title given to High Priest Aknadin after gaining dark powers. Aknadin forsook the Pharaoh and used the Millennium Items to Summon Zorc Necrophades. He was given this title after being imbued with power from Zorc.

Other

Priests ranking below High Priest are rarely mentioned in the manga or anime. Ishizu Ishtar showed Seto Kaiba a flashback of Seto facing another Priest in a Diaha. That Priest was directly serving the Pharaoh, so may have been a High Priest, but his full rank is not mentioned.

In Yu-Gi-Oh! Forbidden Memories, a number of Priests serving below High Priests appear.

• Royal Guard Priest (近衛神官 Konoe Shinkan) is used for Sebek and Neku, who were protectors for Heishin at the Dark Shrine.
• Heishin also had Seto, another Priest, as his second-in-command.
• Each of the other High Priests has another Priest at their temple, with their position named after the temple's environment. e.g. the Mountain Temple has a Mountain Mage.