Tombs Of Al-Hawaish
Al-Hawaish is located in the govenerate of Sohag located 255km North of Luxor.
Al-Hawawish Cemetery is considered one of the most prominent archaeological sites in Sohag, as Al-Hawaish is located about 10 km east of Sohag, and about 7 km from Akhmim, which was its main cemetery during the Old Kingdom. This attracted the Australian Research Council and Macquarie University's Australian Center for Egyptology Research to conduct scientific excavations at the site from the early 1980s until the early 1990s.
Al-Hawawish Cemetery contains more than 800 tombs date back to the ages of the Old Kingdom (2494-2181 BC) and the First Transition Period (2181-2055 BC), and nearly 60 tombs still preserve some inscriptions, funerary scenes, offering, daily life, dancing and hunting and agriculture is in the ancient Akhmim, while five of them are very well preserved.
When you visit you will find the tombs high up in the hills you will defiantly need to be able to climb stairs as there are 1080 steps to the top. You don't have to climb it all in one go and there are plenty of rest stops along the way. The views are just amazing from up there and when you reach the top you will get to see some lovely tombs.
There are 5 tombs that can be visited in total and there is not much of the original decoration left but what is left is stunning and well worth the climb.
The 5 tombs are for the following
The Tomb of Shepsipumin / Kheni (H24)
The tomb of Shepsipumin dates to the sixth Dynasty, end of the reign of King Pepy II (2278-2184 BC). It was situated high up on the cliff, at a height of 225 metres. Shepsipumin was also called Kheni and was the eldest son and successor of Theti-Iker, owner of the neighbouring tomb no. H26.
Kheni held many titles, Count, Treasurer of the King of Lower Egypt, Sem-priest, Sole companion, Overseer of Upper Egypt, Lector-priest, Overseer of priests, Great overlord of Akhmim. Besides his wife, Hetpet who was called the Priestess of Hathor and two of their daughters were mentioned in the tomb, in addition to four sons. The name of the eldest son is Teti.