Potiphar or
Potifar is a person known only from the
Book of Genesis's account of
Joseph. Potiphar is said to be the
captain of the
palace guard and is referred to without name in the Quran.
Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, is taken to Egypt where he is sold to Potiphar as a household slave. Potiphar makes Joseph the head of his household, but
Potiphar's wife, who is
not named in the Bible or in Christian tradition, is furious at Joseph for resisting her attempts to seduce him, and falsely accuses him of attempted rape. Potiphar casts Joseph into prison, from where he later comes to the notice of
Pharaoh through his ability to
interpret the dreams of other prisoners.