the same capacity in the region. The Elephantine Island
was always considered militarily strategic.
A small pyramid dating to the Old Kingdom was also
discovered on the island, and the Elephantine was sup-
posedly noted for two nearby mountains, called Tor Hapi
and Mut Hapi, or Krophi and Mophi. They were vener-
ated in early times as “the Cavern of Hopi” and the
“Water of Hopi.” The territory was considered “the Store-
house of the Nile” and had great religious significance,
especially in connection with the god Khnum and with
celestial rituals. The temple of Khnum was erected on a
quay of the island and was endowed by many pharaohs.
ACALENDARwas discovered in fragmented form on
the Elephantine Island, dating to the reign of TUTHMOSIS
III(1479–1425 B.C.E.) of the Eighteenth Dynasty. The
calendar was inscribed on a block of stone. This unique
document was called the Elephantine Calendar. Another
inscription was discovered on a STELAat the Elephan-
tine. This commemorated the repairs made on a fortress
of the Twelfth Dynasty and honors SENWOSRET III (r.
1878–1841 B.C.E.). The fortress dominated the island in
that era, giving it a commanding sweep of the Nile at
that location.
The Elephantine Papyrus, found on the island, is a
document dating to the Thirteenth Dynasty (1783–1640
B.C.E.). The papyrus gives an account of that historical
period. The Elephantine temple and all of its priestly
inhabitants were free of government services and taxes.The area was called “the Door to the South” and was a
starting point for trade with Nubia.Elkab (Nekheb) Asite called Nekheb by the Egyp-
tians and one of the nation’s earliest settlements, dating
toc. 6000 B.C.E. Elkab is on the east bank of the Nile, 20
miles south of ESNA. The site is across the river from
HIERAKONPOLISand is related to nearby Nekhen (modern
Kom el-Ahmar). Predynastic palaces, garrisoned ram-
parts, and other interior defenses attest to the age of the
site, which was sacred to the goddess NEKHEBET, the
patroness of Upper Egypt.
Elkab’s citizens rose up against ’AHMOSE(r. 1550–
1525 B.C.E.) when he started the Eighteenth Dynasty, and
he interrupted the siege of the HYKSOScapital of AVARISto
put down the rebellion. The nomarchs of the area were
energetic and independent. Their rock-cut tombs are in
the northeast section of the city and display their viva-
cious approach to life and death. TUTHMOSIS III (r.
1479–1425 B.C.E.) erected the first chapel to Nekhebet,
finished by his successor AMENHOTEP II. The temple of
Nekhebet had a series of smaller temples attached as well
as a sacred lake and a necropolis. A temple honoring the
god THOTHwas started by RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224
B.C.E.). The present Nekhebet shrine dates to the Late
Period (712–332 B.C.E.). In the valley of Elkab shrines of
Nubian deities were discovered, and in distant wadis a
shrine to a deity named SHESMETET and a temple of
HATHORand Nekhebet stand in ruins. The rock-cut tombs
of ’AHMOSE-PEN NEKHEBET, ’AHMOSE,SON OF EBANA, and
PAHERIare also on the site. Elkab also contains El-Ham-
mam, called “the Bath,” which was dated to the reign of
Ramesses II. His stela is still evident there. AMENHOTEP III
(r. 1391–1353 B.C.E.) also erected a chapel there for the
sacred Bark of Nekhebet.El-Kula A site on the western shore of the Nile north
of HIERAKONPOLISand ELKAB, the remains of a step pyra-
mid were discovered there, but no temple or offertory
chapel was connected to the shrine. The pyramid dates to
the Old Kingdom (2575–2134 B.C.E.).El-Lisht See Lisht, el-.The “Eloquent Peasant” of Herakleopolis Acom-
moner named KHUNIANUPUwho farmed land in the WADI
NATRUN, in the desert territory beyond the western Delta,
probably in the reign of KHETY II(Aktoy) of the Ninth
Dynasty (r. 2134–2040 B.C.E.), Khunianupu decided to
take his produce to market one day and entered the dis-
trict called Perfefi. There he ran afoul of Djehutinakhte or
Nemtynakhte, the son of a high-ranking court official,
Meri. Djehutinakhte stole Khunianupu’s donkeys and
produce and then beat him. The peasant took his com-
plaints to Rensi, the chief steward of the ruler, when localThe “Eloquent Peasant” of Herakleopolis 131The deities of the Elephantine and the first cataract of the
Nile—Khnum, Satet, and Atet.