Aphroditopolis (Atfih) Pyramid Field
Aphroditopolis · Tepihu · Atfih · Per Nemty
Predynastic to Late Antique (3500 BCE–7th c. CE)·Egyptian (22nd Upper nome)·🇪🇬 Giza Governorate, Atfih (Aphroditopolis), east bank at Nile bend, 60 km south of Cairo, Egypt
About
About Aphroditopolis (Atfih) Pyramid Field
Nome capital of the 22nd Upper Egyptian nome (Aphroditopolite), Atfih (Tepihu, Per-Nemty) shows 400×200 m tell with Late Period cow necropolis (Hathor cows, 200 mummies), Predynastic settlement (Naqada II) underlie, rock-cut tombs of nomarchs (First Intermediate Period with warrior scenes), and small Late Period pyramid cenotaph (?) 8 m base. Quarry on gebel feeding Tura. Papyrus archive (Tebtunis-like) from temple.
Why it mattersHathor cow necropolis uniqueness and Nile bend nome frontier model.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Cow mummy dating
- 02Cenotaph vs mastaba
Theories
- 01Lloyd Atfih model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Predynastic 3500 BCE settlement; nome capital Old Kingdom; pyramid 26th Dyn.
- Period
- Predynastic to Late Antique (3500 BCE–7th c. CE)
- Culture
- Egyptian (22nd Upper nome)
- Builders
- Egyptian (Per-Nemty priests)
- Purpose
- Cow Hathor cult centre and river-bend nome capital
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
3500 BCE
Predynastic settlement
2180 BCE
Nomarch rock tombs (1st Intermediate)
650 BCE
Cow necropolis and cenotaph pyramid
On the ground
Structures & features
29.4200° N · 31.2500° E · 35 m · 2 mapped features
Hathor Cow Necropolis
necropolis150×30 m vaults with 200 cow mummies on linen and resin
29.4210° N · 31.2510° ENomarch Rock Tombs
tomb6 First Intermediate tombs with warrior and slinger friezes
29.4190° N · 31.2490° E