Deir el-Ballas South Palace
South Palace of Ahmose · Ballassouth · Deir el Ballas South
Second Intermediate to New Kingdom (c. 1600–1450 BCE)·Theban Egyptian (17th–18th Dynasty)·🇪🇬 Qena Governorate, Deir el-Ballas north of Thebes, Egypt
About
About Deir el-Ballas South Palace
Southern palace of the 17th Dynasty war capital Deir el-Ballas, base of Seqenenre Tao and Ahmose against Hyksos. Mudbrick casemate palace (80×50 m) with columned hall, workmen's village (150 houses) and siege ramp glimpse. Papyrus Ballas 515.
Why it mattersOnly surviving 17th Dynasty royal war base preceding New Kingdom empire.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Siege ramp vs natural hill
- 02Papyrus archive fragment
Theories
- 01Ballas as Hyksos war HQ (Lacovara)
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1600 BCE under Seqenenre Tao
- Period
- Second Intermediate to New Kingdom (c. 1600–1450 BCE)
- Culture
- Theban Egyptian (17th–18th Dynasty)
- Purpose
- Military palace and logistics base for Ahmose's Hyksos war
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1600 BCE
Palace built under Seqenenre Tao
c. 1550 BCE
Ahmose launches war from Ballas
c. 1450 BCE
Abandoned after shift to Karnak
1900 CE
Reisner excavations
On the ground
Structures & features
26.0500° N · 32.7700° E · 85 m · 2 mapped features
South Casemate Palace
palaceMudbrick palace 80×50 m with columned hall 12 columns
26.0510° N · 32.7710° EWorkmen's Village (South)
settlementVillage 150 houses with silos and bakeries
26.0490° N · 32.7690° E