Tombs Of Beni Hassan Travel Guide: Top Sights in Egypt, Tours &

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Tombs Of Beni Hassan- Travel Tips What to See, How to Plan & Tours: Historical & Cultural; Egypt; 5 Reviews

Suggested Duration: 2 hours

Beni Hasan, located around 20 kilometers south of Minya in Middle Egypt, is an ancient cemetery primarily used during the Middle Kingdom (21st to 17th centuries BCE). The site features 39 rock-cut tombs of provincial governors known as nomarchs from the Oryx nome, showcasing their social status through elaborate designs and vibrant murals depicting daily life and warfare. Some tombs are adorned with biographical inscriptions and are renowned for their high-quality artwork, although much of it is now in poor condition. The site also contains shaft tombs from the Middle Kingdom, with distinct spatial organization reflecting the wealth of the individuals buried there. Nearby, a subterranean temple built by Hatshepsut and Thutmose III dedicated to the goddess Pakhet adds to the site's archaeological significance.

Operators offering tours in Egypt

Reviews of Beni Hasan

Catherine Shawarby

5
Reviewed: 2024-10-24

Fascinating place . Only four of the tombs are open to the public. But they are interesting to see, when you climb up the steep steps to get there! Male toilets are very poor, with no running water!
Wamman101

5
Reviewed: 2023-12-27

Great Experience. Convenient parking and a building to rest in when coming down.
Amgad Barakat

5
Reviewed: 2022-08-29

One of the best tombs ever in Upper Egypt. The only big challenge is to escalate the 180 steps to reach the tomb up there. Great place well kept and great scenery. Thank you for keeping the place as good as it should. All the best and keep up the good work.
Ahmed Elgohary

5
Reviewed: 2022-05-08

The most important historical site in Minya worth to travel from Cairo to see it. Many tombs in a very good condition with beautiful colours. Also wrestling seens are so unique
Rasha fam

5
Reviewed: 2021-02-08

Great place! There are 4 tombs opened with beautiful scenes. The most unique ones are the one of wrestling 🤼‍♀️ different positions. While there are some Old Kingdom burials at the site, it was primarily used during the Middle Kingdom, spanning the 21st to 17th centuries BCE (Middle Bronze Age). There are 39 ancient tombs here of Middle Kingdom (ca. 21st to 19th centuries BCE) nomarchs of the Oryx nome, who governed from Hebenu. Due to the quality of, and distance to the cliffs in the west, these tombs were constructed on the east bank. There is a spatial distribution in this cemetery (there are two cemeteries here: the upper range and the lower necropolis) associated with the different levels of resources available to the deceased; the most important people were buried near the top of the cliff. 80 In the lower cemetery there are 888 shaft tombs, dating to the Middle Kingdom, that were excavated by John Garstang; for the most part these tombs shared a similar general design which included a small chamber or recess at the foot of the shaft (facing south) to receive the coffin and the funeral deposits.