The earliest courtiers coincide with the development of definable courts beyond the rudimentary entourages or retinues of rulers. There were probably courtiers in the courts of the Akkadian Empire where there is evidence of court appointments such as that of cup-bearer which was one of the earliest court appointments and remained a position at courts for thousands of years. Two of the earliest titles referring to the general concept of a courtier were likely the "ša rēsi" and "mazzāz pāni" of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. In Ancient Egypt we find a title translated as high steward or great overseer of the house.