The Tombs of Beni Hasan
On the right bank of the Nile, just above Tell-el-Amarna and almost opposite Hermopolis, there is an important necropolis dating back to the period between the 11th and 12th Dynasties
On the right bank of the Nile, just above Tell-el-Amarna and almost opposite Hermopolis, there is an important necropolis dating back to the period between the 11th and 12th Dynasties. The place, which at the time was part of the XVI Nomos, is now called Beni Hasan. The tombs found are as many as 39, dug into the rock of a cliff and belong to the "nomarchi", characters who, from the power vacuum preceding the Middle Kingdom, actually governed the Nomoi (in this case, that of the Sciacallo and that of the Gazelle) and they were buried there, regardless of the burial site of the Pharaoh. Among these, twelve are particularly interesting as they constitute a precious testimony of provincial life in this particular historical period that dates back to about 2100 BC.
These tombs are often preceded by a portico carved into the rock, with non-grooved polyhedral columns, which precedes one or more hypostyle halls.
The decorations of the latter are particularly interesting, although difficult to preserve and restore because they are painted on stucco. There are the usual depictions of agricultural scenes, navigation on the Nile and of artisans at work, but also scenes of military training, hunting in the desert in which even fantastic animals appear: a lion with the head of a snake and a winged dragon with the hawk test. Then, there is also the representation of a caravan of 34 Asians, women and children, who carry tributes at the time of the reign of Sesostris II.
The tombs open to the public are those of Baquet III, a great dignitary of the Gazelle, of Khnumhotep III, particularly rich, and of Amenemhet with his consort Hepetet, priestess of Hathor. lived at the time of Sesostri I.
In this last tomb there are also depictions of scenes of war and violent sports, such as wrestling and boxing.
Therefore, it is not true that, as in my time, a specific question was answered on the site's Forum, that competitive sports have never existed in Egypt. Not far from these tombs, there is also a rupestrian temple, built by Hatshepsut, dedicated to the local goddess Pakhet, identified, in Greek times, with Artemis. Here, the cartouches of Hatshepsut were then replaced with those of Tutmosis III (as everywhere!) And, subsequently, with those of Seti I (he, too, in terms of appropriation, did a great job!).
