Beni Hasan

Beni Hasan is a village in Middle Egypt about 25 km south of al Minya, on the east bank of the Nile.

During the Middle Kingdom, it was the centre of the cult of Pakhet. There are 39 ancient tombs here of Middle Kingdom nomarchs of the Oryx nome, who governed from Hebenu. Due to the quality of of rock on the west bank, and the distance to the cliffs there, these tombs were constructed on the east bank, but are otherwise similar to other Middle Kingdom tombs.

Most of the tombs have a similar layout, with a carved entrance, and then a large (usually pillared) room containing painted decoration and the burial shafts. They are famous for the quality of their paintings, some of which the arrival of Asiatics into the region.

Four of the most important tombs are:

• Tomb 2 Amenemhet, known as Ameni
• Tomb 3 Khnumhotep II
• Tomb 15 Baqet III
• Tomb 17 Khety

To the south of the tombs is a rock-cut temple constructed by Hatshepsut and Thutmose III.

Links

Beni Hasan in Global Egyptian Museum

and in egypsites

Beni Hasan in Artefacts of Excavation (The Griffith Institute)

Location of Beni Hasan

Models by site for Beni Hasan