Deir el-Ballas

Deir el-Ballas is an archaeological site in Upper Egypt. It was the location of a royal palace and administration center occupied by rulers of the Seventeenth Dynasty in ancient Egypt's late Second Intermediate Period.

Deir el-Ballas was located on the west bank of the Nile, approximately twenty kilometers south of Dendara and some 30 miles north of Thebes (modern-day Luxor).

It has not yet been determined who constructed the buildings in this area or when. However, Seqenenre Tao and Kamose, the final two rulers of the Seventeenth Dynasty, are known to have used the palaces. For as yet undetermined reasons the rulers of the succeeding New Kingdom (approximately 1550-1070 BCE) abandoned the site; however, several New Kingdom-era graves were discovered in this area during the 20th century.

The complex seems to have consisted of several facilities enclosed by a wall measuring 900 by 400 feet. A Northern Palace served as the royal residence with a village for staff members, workers, and artisans built nearby, while a two-storied Southern Palace was used an administrative center. "Also included in the complex were silos and stables, indicating the agricultural interests of the royal family."

According to Margaret Bunson, "the palaces (pero or per-a'a) (of the Second Intermediate Period) always contained two gateways, two main halls, and two administrative sections to reflect the upper and lower regions of the nation. Flagstaffs were used at the gates, as they were placed before temples. The remains of the Seventeenth Dynasty (1640–1550 BCE) palace at Deir el-Ballas, on the western shore north of Thebes, indicate somewhat luxurious surroundings and innovative decoration, following the "double" scheme. In some instances the walls and floors were designed to portray pools of fish and vast tracts of flowering shrubs."

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