Beni Hasan, Rock-cut tombs in Minya Governorate, Egypt.
Beni Hasan is a necropolis with rock-cut tombs carved into limestone cliffs in central Egypt dating to the Middle Kingdom. The site features about 39 larger tombs in the upper level and several hundred simpler shaft tombs in the lower section.
The necropolis developed during the Middle Kingdom when regional officials chose this location for their burials and decorated their tombs with texts and paintings. This era saw strong administrative organization and the custom of recording life through imagery and writing.
The paintings on the walls show daily scenes from ancient Egyptian life, including farming, hunting, and games that reveal how people spent their time. Visitors can observe the routines and pleasures that mattered to those who lived then.
The site sits on a plateau above the Nile valley and is open to walk around, with some tombs accessible from the inside while others can only be viewed from outside. It helps to arrive early to avoid extended exposure to heat, and sturdy footwear is important as the ground is uneven in places.
The tombs bear repeated names such as Baqet, Khety, and Khnumhotep, offering clues to family connections across generations among those buried here. This allows visitors to trace how family lines persisted and held power through successive periods.
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