Beni Hasan

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Beni Hasan

archaeological site, Egypt

Also known as: Banī Ḥasan

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

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Also spelled:: Banī Ḥasan

Related Topics:: ancient Egyptian religion; archaeology; tomb; burial place

Related Places:: Egypt; ancient Egypt

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Beni Hasan, Egyptian archaeological site from the Middle Kingdom (1938–c. 1630 bce), lying on the eastern bank of the Nile roughly 155 miles (245 km) south of Cairo. The site is noted for its rock-cut tombs of 11th- and 12th-dynasty officials of the 16th Upper Egyptian (Oryx) nome, or province. Some of the 39 tombs are painted with scenes of daily life and important biographical texts. The governors of the nome, whose capital was Menat Khufu, administered the eastern desert. The tomb of one, Khnumhotep II, contains a scene showing Semitic Bedouin merchants in richly colored garments entering Egypt. Speos Artemidos, a rock-cut shrine originally dedicated to the local lion-headed goddess Pakhet, built by Queen Hatshepsut and Thutmose III of the 18th dynasty, lies one mile south in an ancient quarry, with a smaller shrine of Alexander II nearby.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.