Beni Hasan

Beni Hasan (or Bani Hasan, or also Beni-Hassan) is a village in Middle Egypt about 25 km south of Al Minya (or Minieh), on the east bank of the Nile, with remarkable catacombs that have been excavated. During the Middle Kingdom, it was the centre of the cult of Pakhet.

Related Topics:
Egypt - Km - Al Minya - Minieh - Nile - Catacomb - Middle Kingdom - Pakhet

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

There are 39 ancient tombs here of Middle Kingdom nomarchs of the Oryx nome. Due to the quality of, and distance to the cliffs in the west, these tombs were constructed on the east bank, but are otherwise similar to other Middle Kingdom tombs.

Related Topics:
Middle Kingdom - Nomarch - Nome

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Most of the tombs have a similar layout, with a carved entrance, and then a large (usually pillared) room containing the painted decoration and burial shafts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The south of the tombs is a temple constructed by Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, the Cave of Artemis, so-named because the Greeks identified Pakhet with Artemis, and the temple is subterranean.

Related Topics:
Hatshepsut - Thutmose III - Cave of Artemis - Greeks - Artemis - Subterranean

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~