THE TEMPLES, SITES AND MONUMENTS OF ANCIENT EGYPT

Herakleopolis (sometimes spelled Heracleopolis) is the Greek name of the capital of the 20th nome of Lower Egypt. It was located on the left bank of the Nile.

It was called Henen-nesut, Nen-nesu, or Hwt-nen-nesu in ancient Egyptian, meaning "House of the Royal Child". Later, it was called Hennes in Coptic, and Ahnas in Arabic. Today it is known as Ihnasiya Umm el-Kimam, meaning "Mother of the (Pottery) Shards".

Herakleopolis was the capital of Lower Egypt during the 9th and 10th Dynasties of the chaotic First Intermediate Period. Around 2150 BC a line of pharaohs tried to reunite Lower Egypt from here. These pharaohs descended from a nome ruler named Neferkare.

After the re-unification of Egypt by the 11th and 12th Dynasties of the Middle Kingdom, Herakleopolis faded in importance. Today the ruins are a tourist attraction.

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