Beni Hasan is the name of two neighboring villages, the inhabited place Benī Ḥasan esch-schurūq (the eastern one) and the now uninhabited place Benī Ḥasan al-qadīm (the old one), in Middle Egypt. They are located about 25 km south of el-Minyā on the eastern bank of the Nile. Near Benī Ḥasan al-qadīm is the most famous necropolis of the Middle Kingdom - next to those in Deir el-Barschā, Meir, Thebes, el-Maʿalla and Aswan - while in the vicinity of Benī Ḥasan ash-shurūq the Speos Artemidos is located.
Benī Ḥasan is a modern name derived from an Arabic tribe. In the village of Benī Ḥasan esch-schurūq, Arabic: بني حسن الشروق
With the exception of the New Kingdom, the necropolis was used throughout ancient Egypt, but mainly in the 12th Dynasty (Middle Kingdom). It is the necropolis of the 16th Upper Egyptian Gaus
The necropolis consists of 39 rock tombs of Gau princes of the 11th and 12th dynasties, twelve of which are decorated. In the level in front of the rock graves there are around 900 shaft graves for officials and employees of the aforementioned guest princes. The latter were excavated by John Garstang at the beginning of the 20th century and contained numerous decorated coffins, wooden servant figures and other typical grave goods from the Middle Kingdom. The finds are now in various museums around the world.
The rock tombs have a rectangular floor plan, the rooms can be divided by columns and architraves. The facade can take on a portico. The decorated graves have wall paintings on stucco, the base is mostly unworked. Popular scenes include: wrestling scenes, the hunt for desert animals (some with mythical creatures), craft scenes (e.g. spinning and weaving), trade including depictions of foreign peoples, the siege of fortresses and numerous agricultural (including harvesting) and zoological depictions. Interestingly, the representations make little reference to the activity of the tomb lord. The wrestling groups are unique in this necropolis, there are occasionally depictions of two wrestlers, but never whole groups. Representations of fortress conquests are also rare (only in the tomb of Inti in Deschascha and in the tomb of Kaiemheset in Saqqāra, which are not accessible to tourists).
In Christian times, the graves were used as hermitages or churches, as can be seen from the graffiti. The inaccessible grave 23 of the Netjernacht was probably used as a school, the Coptic alphabet was written on one of its walls.
The journey is usually made by taxi or coach. Depending on whether you want to reach other destinations or are traveling with several people, the price for the taxi is around LE 100-150. The archaeological site can be reached via a well-developed asphalt road on the east bank. The Nile crossing should be made over the Nile bridge of el-Minyā. It is possible that you will have to join a convoy.
By boat
At the beginning of the 1990s it was also possible to make a crossing by ship from Mallawī, which was definitely attractive. The modern road and the decline in the number of tourists after the attacks in the 1990s suggest that this type of travel no longer exists.
The necropolis can only be explored on foot.
Attractions
View of the fertile land and the Nile
Facades of various graves
Tomb of Khnumhotep II.
Grave of Khnumhotep II, lintel at the grave entrance
Pharaonic monuments
The prince graves are accessible from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The admission price is LE 60, for students LE 30 (as of 11/2019). The four most famous tombs are open to tourists. The graves will be opened for you by the guards, who will be happy to receive a small tip. Photography is prohibited.
Tomb of Amenemhat, BH 2
Grave of Amenemhat, called Ameni, prince under Sesostris I (12th Dynasty), grave BH 2. The decorated three-aisled main room is reached via a pillared vestibule. The following representations can be found in a clockwise direction. Craftsmen, linen making and farming scenes are shown on the northern entrance wall. The north side is occupied by a hunt for desert animals and the grave procession, the east wall depicts groups of wrestlers, the storming of a fortress and the Abydos journey, while on the south wall the grave lord with his family in front of the sacrificial table, butchers and offerers are depicted. The southern entrance wall contains the mock door and various agricultural scenes
Four out of the 39 tombs are accessible to the public. Notable tombs are:
- Tomb 2 – Amenemhat, known as Ameny, nomarch under Senusret I (accessible).
- Tomb 3 – Khnumhotep II, notable for the depiction of caravans of Semitic traders (accessible).
- Tomb 4 – Khnumhotep IV, nomarch during the late 12th Dynasty (closed).
- Tomb 13 – Khnumhotep, royal scribe during the 12th Dynasty (closed).
- Tomb 14 – Khnumhotep I, nomarch under Amenemhat I (closed).
- Tomb 15 –– Baqet III, notable for the depiction of wrestling techniques (accessible).
- Tomb 17 – Khety, nomarch during the 11th Dynasty, son of Baqet; notable for depiction of what may be ball games (accessible).
- Tomb 21 – Nakht, nomarch during the 12th Dynasty (closed).
- Tomb 23 – Netjernakht, overseer of the Eastern Desert during the 12th dynasty (closed).
- Tomb 27 – Ramushenti, nomarch during the 11th Dynasty (closed).
- Tomb 29 – Baqet I, nomarch during the 11th Dynasty (closed).
- Tomb 33 – Baqet II, nomarch during the 11th Dynasty (closed).
To the south of the cemetery is a temple constructed by Hatshepsut and Thutmose III, dedicated to the local goddess Pakhet. It is known as the Cave of Artemis, because the Greeks identified Pakhet with Artemis, and the temple is subterranean
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