Ihnasya al-Madinah

REGISTERED: Yes

 

OTHER NAMES: Neni-nesu/Henen-nesut, Herakleopolis Magna, Hnes

    One of the most important towns in the region, Ihnasya al-Madinah was the capital of the XXth nome of Upper Egypt during the Old Kingdom. It rose to independence during the First Intermediate Period as the base of the Herakeopolitan rulers.

 

The main temple was dedicated to Herishef and probably founded during the XIIth dynasty, although most of the remains date to the reign of Ramesses II. Roman remains include houses, small objects and a late Roman church. More recently, a Spanish mission has been excavating tombs at the site, dating to the First and Third Intermediate Periods, and the Middle Kingdom.

 

For centuries, the archaeological remains at the site have been used for sebakhin and its stone carted off for the use in factories. Today, several remains are under water and poorly preserved. Roads cross the site and it is encroached upon by modern housing.

 

 

     Amlaak Maps

Official maps used by the SCA based on ESA maps, showing the official borders of archaeological sites.

Other Backgrounds

    ESA/AGR 1:2500 Maps  

Ministry of Agriculture (AGR) updated ESA cadastral maps to demonstrate urban expansion until 1985. These maps are commonly used by local land authorities and land use planners..

    ESA 1:2500 Maps  

Cadastral maps produced by ESA showing the location and boundaries of urban built up areas and the land divisions with their names and numbers. Two versions are produced from this series in the early 1900s and 1940s.

    ESA 1:50,000 Topographical Maps 

ESA maps with urban and topographical features, produced in 1993. These maps are useful in showing the relationships between archaeological sites and built-up land.