Hermonthis

The modern town of Armant (ancient Egyptian Iuny; Coptic: Coptic|ⲉⲣⲙⲉⲛⲧ Erment; known in Greek as Hermonthis), is located about 12 miles south of Thebes, in Egypt. It was an important Middle Kingdom town, which was enlarged during the Eighteenth Dynasty. It is located today in the Qena Governorate, on the west bank of the Nile. The modern name of the city derives from "Iunu-Montu".

Menthu was an Egyptian god whose name means "nomad". Menthu was associated with raging bulls, strength and war. He was also said to manifest himself in a white bull with a black face, which was referred to as the Bakha. Egypt's greatest general-kings called themselves Mighty Bulls, the sons of Menthu. In the famous narrative of the Battle of Kadesh, Ramesses II was said to have seen the enemy and "raged at them like Menthu, Lord of Thebes".

A temple dedicated to Menthu existed at Hermonthis as early as the Eleventh dynasty, which perhaps originated at Hermonthis. Nebhetepra Mentuhotep II is the earliest builder known with certainty. Important additions were made during the Twelfth dynasty and during the New Kingdom. Destroyed during the Late Period, a new temple was started in the reign of Nectanebo II and was continued by the Ptolemies. Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XV Caesarion added a birth house with a sacred lake. The building remained visible until the Nineteenth Century, when it was recycled to build a sugar factory. Only the remains of the pylon of Thutmose III is visible today.

Two gates, one of them built by Antoninus Pius, have also been found. The Bucheum, the burial place of the sacred Buchis bulls of Hermonthis, is on the desert edge north of the city. The earliest bull burial dates to Nectanebo II, and the complex remained in use until the mid 4th century AD. The burial place of the "Mother of Buchis" cows has also been located. Extensive cemetries of all periods are found in the neighbourhood of Hermonthis.

Under Cleopatra VII, Hermonthis became the capital of the 4th Upper Egyptian nome. The city remained in use during Coptic era.

ee also

*Menthu
*Bakha