Tuna el-Gebel, Archaeological necropolis in Minya Governorate, Egypt
Tuna el-Gebel is an ancient burial ground with underground passages, temples, and chambers spread across a large area. The site combines both surface structures and buried chambers containing tombs of people and sacred animals from different historical periods.
The necropolis began around 300 BC and remained in use throughout the Ptolemaic and Roman periods. This long period of activity shows how the site served generations of people seeking a burial place for their dead.
This place served as a sacred center where people came to honor the god Thoth and bury their dead according to religious beliefs. Walking through the tombs, you can still see the prayers and images carved into the walls, showing what mattered most to the ancient communities living here.
The site is located about 270 kilometers south of Cairo and can be reached from the nearby town of Hermopolis Magna. Most areas are open to visitors, though many sections remain largely unexcavated and require careful navigation.
Buried beneath the ground are thousands of mummified ibises and baboons, sacred animals offered by pilgrims as gifts to honor the god Thoth. These animal remains provide a rare window into how people expressed their devotion through such offerings.
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