Tuna el-Gebel
| Tuna el-Gebel | |
|---|---|
 Tuna el-Gebel
|
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| Coordinates: 27°44′18″N 30°42′16″E / 27.73833°N 30.70444°E | |
| Country |
 Egypt
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| Governorate | Minya Governorate |
| Time zone | EST (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | +3 (UTC) |
Coordinates: 27°44′18″N 30°42′16″E / 27.73833°N 30.70444°E
Tuna el-Gebel was the necropolis of Khmun (Hermopolis Magna). It is located in Al Minya Governorate in Middle Egypt.
The oldest monument in the area is one of the Boundary Stelae of Akhenaten, up in the cliffs, protected by a glass 'booth'. This makes it quite difficult to see properly, but prevents further erosion.
Later catacombs were dug under the necropolis; these were used to store thousands of sacred mummies of falcons, baboons and ibises.
Near to the modern entrance to the catacombs is the tomb of the 4th century high priest Petosiris. This sepulchre is constructed to look like a temple, resembling Dendera. The outside is decorated in typical Late Period style, whereas the outer court is ornamented in a Greek style. The tomb was constructed around the time of the conquest of Egypt by Alexander the Great, and seems to have been decorated like this to curry favour with the new Ptolemaic rulers.
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