Egypt to Set after centuries of ruling alone. Geb was wor-
shiped in Bata, a shrine in HELIOPOLIS. He was the keeper
of the throne and the wise speaker of the gods. As the
earth, he was sometimes colored green. In funerary texts,
Geb could be an enemy of the deceased. Earthquakes
were considered the result of Geb’s laughter.
Gebel Abu Rowash See ABU ROWASH.
Gebel Adda Asite north of FARASin NUBIA(modern
Sudan), HOREMHAB(r. 1319–1307 B.C.E.) of the Eigh-
teenth Dynasty built a temple there honoring the deities
AMUNand THOTH. This shrine complex, part of the royal
building programs in the territory, was graced with
columned halls, a staircase, and three altar chambers for
ceremonies.
Gebel Barkal This was a site in NUBIA(modern Sudan)
near the fourth cataract of the Nile. A temple honoring
the god AMUNwas started at Gebel Barkal by pharaohs of
the Eighteenth Dynasty (1550–1307 B.C.E.) and refur-
bished by SETI I(r. 1306–1290 B.C.E.) of the Nineteenth
Dynasty. Gebel Barkal was one of the southernmost fron-
tiers of Egypt during the imperial period, but it was not
maintained by the less powerful rulers of the later eras.
TAHARQA(r. 690–664 B.C.E.) erected a temple at Gebel
Barkal, which was designated as a “Holy Mountain.” Tra-
dition states that a giant cobra emerged from a cave in the
mountain to witness the religious rites conducted there.
Gebel Dokhan Asite near DENDEREH, located in the
WADI QENA, where porphyry was quarried. The site
became popular in the Roman Period (after 30 B.C.E.),
boasting several temples and shrines.
Gebelein (Pi-Hathor, Pathyris) This is the modern
name for a site on the western shore of the Nile River,
located south of ERMENT. The city was originally called
Pi-Hathor by the Egyptians, and then named Pathyris by
the Greeks. Gebelein was a center for the goddess HA-
THORfrom ancient times. Temples were discovered there
from the Eleventh and Twelfth Dynasties (2040–1783
B.C.E.), all dedicated to this popular female deity. The
necropolis area of the city also contained tombs from the
First Intermediate Period (2134–2040 B.C.E.). Fragments
from the Gebelein temple include inscriptions from the
reign of MONTUHOTEP II(2061–2010 B.C.E.), commemo-
rating the ruler’s victories. The inscriptions do not specify
whether the defeated enemies were Egyptians or foreign,
and they possibly refer to Montuhotep II’s victory over
the city of HERAKLEOPOLISin 2040 B.C.E.
Gebel el-Ahmar A site called “the Red Mountain,”
located south of modern Cairo, where quartzite was pro-
duced for monuments, the stone in this QUARRYwas red-
dish in color and one of the most beautiful and durable
materials available to the Egyptians over the centuries.
TUTHMOSIS III(r. 1479–1425 B.C.E.) fashioned a shrine out
of the highly prized stone at HELIOPOLIS. Limestone was
also mined in the region.
See also EGYPTIAN NATURAL RESOURCES.Gebel el-Sidmant This is a site south of MEIDUM,
located near HIERAKONPOLIS. A large necropolis, the
graves found there date to the Old Kingdom (2575–2134
B.C.E.) and the First Intermediate Period (2134–2040
B.C.E.). Gebel el-Sidmant served the city of Hierakonpolis
as a burial setting for the local nomarchs and the rulers of
the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties.Gebel el-Silsileh (Khenw, Khenyt, Chenu) A
quarry site south of EDFUon the western shore of the
Nile called Khenw, Khenyt, or Chenu by the Egyptians,
sandstone was plentiful at Gebel el-Silsileh and was
mined in many periods in Egypt’s history, particularly in
the New Kingdom (1550–1070 B.C.E.). Three shrines
were erected on the site by pharaohs of the New King-
dom: SETI I(r. 1306–1290 B.C.E.), RAMESSES II(r. 1290–
1224 B.C.E.), and MERENPTAH(r. 1224–1214 B.C.E.). A
stela of Ramesses II was discovered as well, and monu-
ments of RAMESSES III(r. 1194–1163 B.C.E.), RAMESSES V
(r. 1156–1151 B.C.E.), and SHOSHENQ I (r. 945–924
B.C.E.) were found there. HOREMHAB (r. 1319–1307
B.C.E.) built a temple at Gebel el-Silsileh to commemo-
rate his victory over the Nubians (modern Sudanese) to
the south. The temple of Horemhab was designed with
pillared halls, a rectangular vestibule, and a sanctuary.
Reliefs throughout the temple depict Horemhab’s mili-
tary prowess. Ceremonies of devotion to the god KHNUM
were also performed in the temple. Grottoes, ruined
chapels, sphinxes, and other stelae were discovered at
Gebel el-Silsileh, and to the northwest there are Greco-
Roman ruins.Gebel el-Zebara A mining area in the Eastern Desert
near EDFU. SETI I(r. 1306–1290 B.C.E.) sent expedi-
tions to dig wells in the region to provide water for
local workers. He also provided other accommoda-
tions for the well-being of the territory’s inhabitants.
Such mines were maintained throughout the nation’s
history.Gebel Mokattem This was a limestone QUARRY
located near modern Cairo that provided Tureh stone
for royal building projects from the Early Dynastic
Period (2920–2575 B.C.E.) until the collapse of the
New Kingdom in 1070 B.C.E. The pyramids at GIZAand
other monuments made use of the Gebel Mokattem
stone.144 Gebel Abu Rowash