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 from 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 from the period between the 11th and 12th Dynasties. The site, which at the time was part of the 16th Nomos, is now called Beni Hasan. No fewer than 39 tombs have been found, dug into the rock of a cliff, and they belong to "nomarchs," people who, from the power vacuum prior to the Middle Kingdom, actually ruled the Nomoi and were buried there, regardless of where the Pharaoh was buried.
Of these tombs, twelve are particularly interesting as they provide valuable evidence of provincial life in this particular historical period dating back to ca. 2100 B.C.
These tombs are often preceded by a rock-cut portico with unfluted polyhedral columns, which precedes one or more hypostyle halls.
The decorations in 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 artisans at work, but also scenes of military training, hunting in the desert in which fantastic animals also appear: a snake-headed lion and a hawk-headed winged dragon.
There is also a depiction of a caravan of 34 Asians, women and children, bringing tribute at the time of Sesostri II's reign.
The tombs that are open to the public are those of Baquet III, grand dignitary of the Gazelle, Khnumhotep III, who was particularly wealthy, and Amenemhet with his consort Hepetet, priestess of Hathor, who lived during the time of Sesostri I.
In the latter tomb there are also depictions of war scenes and violent sports, such as wrestling and boxing.
Therefore, it is not true that competitive sports never existed in Egypt. Then, a short distance from these tombs, there is a rock temple, built by Hatshepsut, dedicated to the local Goddess Pakhet, identified, in Greek times, with Artemis. Here, Hatshepsut's cartouches were later replaced with those of Tutmosis III (as everywhere!) and, later, with those of Seti I.
