Herit(fl. 16th century B.C.E.) Royal woman of the Fif-
teenth Dynasty, the Great Hyksos royal line
She was the daughter of APOPHIS(r. 1585–1553 B.C.E.).
Fragments of a vase bearing her name and royal rank
were found in a Theban tomb. Nothing is known of her
life. She lived during the time when the HYKSOSwere
ousted from Egypt by ’AHMOSE(r. 1550–1525 B.C.E.).
Hermes Trismegistos The Greek version of the
Egyptian deity of wisdom, THOTH, the adaptation
involved the identification of Thoth as Hermes, and
Trismegistos meant “Thrice Greatest.” The Egyptians
called Thoth “A’a, A’a, A’a,” “Great, Great, Great,” in cul-
tic rituals. An occult system emerged out of this desig-
nation both academic and popular. The theological and
philosophical writings that developed as part of the cult
were included in the 17 works of the Corpus Her-
meticum.They were composed in Greek. The popular
Hermetic works included astrological and esoteric sci-
entific pieces that mirrored occult or mythical views of
the era. They were also an evolution of the Egyptian
system of magic.
Hermonthis See ERMENT.
Hermopolis Magna (Khnum Khemenu, Ashsmun,
Per-Djehuty) This was a site on the west bank of the
Nile near MALLAWIand el-Ashmunien in central Egypt.
Originally called Khnum Khemenu, or Ashsmun, “the
Eight Town” (in honor of the OGDOAD), the site was also
revered as Per-Djehuty, “the House of THOTH.” A giant
statue of Thoth as a BABOONwas erected there, as well as
a temple for the god’s cult. NECTANEBO I(r. 380–362
B.C.E.) restored that temple, but it is now destroyed.
Hermopolis Magna was the capital of the fifteenth
nome of Upper Egypt and was traditionally recorded as
having been erected on a primal hill of creation. AMEN-
HOTEP III(r. 1391–1353 B.C.E.) erected a temple to Thoth
on the site (rebuilt by Nectanebo I). A temple of AMUN
made of limestone was started in Hermopolis Magna by
MERENPTAH(r. 1224–1214 B.C.E.) and finished by SETI II
(r. 1214–1204 B.C.E.). A PYLONand a HYPOSTYLE HALL
have survived. Ruins of an Old Kingdom (2575–2134
B.C.E.) shrine and a devotional center restored by HAT-
SHEPSUT(r. 1473–1458 B.C.E.) are also on the site, as well
as two seated colossi statues of RAMESSES II(r. 1290–1224
B.C.E.). The Ramessid structure at Hermopolis Magna
used stones, called TALATAT, taken from ’AMARNA, the
razed capital of AKHENATEN(r. 1353–1335 B.C.E.), and
contained many important reliefs. TUNA EL-GEBEL was
the necropolis for Hermopolis Magna. The famous tomb
of PETOSIRISis located there. Three documents from the
Twelfth Dynasty (1991–1783 B.C.E.) were also found
on the site, as well as Ptolemaic Period (304–30 B.C.E.)
statues.
Hermopolis Parva This was a site south of modern
El-Bagliya, called Ba’h in ancient times. Built on three
mounds, Hermopolis Parva had three major monuments.
The first was at Tell el-Nagus and was a temple to the god
THOTH. The remains of the temple have bell-shaped ruins
and are called “The Mounds of the Bull.” The second
mound was used as a cemetery of ibises at Tell el-Zereiki.
The third monument, located at TELL EL-RUB’A, was a
shrine to Thoth, erected by APRIES(r. 589–570 B.C.E.). A
torso of NECTANEBO I(r. 380–362 B.C.E.) was also found
there, as well as blocks of stone from PSAMMETICHUS I(r.
664–610 B.C.E.).Herneith (1)(fl. 30th century B.C.E.)Royal woman of
the First Dynasty
She was the consort of DJER(r. c. 2900 B.C.E.). Herneith
was buried in SAQQARA, probably in the reign of Djer’s
successor, DJET. His jar sealings were found in her tomb,
which had a stairway and a burial pit as well as surface
chambers. She was the mother of Djet.Herneith (2)(fl. 28th century B.C.E.) (Royal woman of
the First Dynasty
She was the consort of DEN(r. c. 2700 B.C.E.). Herneith
was probably not the mother of the successor, ADJIB, but
was a descendant of HERNEITH(1).Herodotus(d. c. 420 B.C.E.)Greek historian, known as
the “Father of History”
He toured Egypt, c. 450 B.C.E., and wrote extensively
about his experiences on the Nile. He was born in HALI-
CARNASSUS(now Bodrum, Turkey), c. 484 B.C.E., and
earned a reputation as a historian. His nine-volume Histo-
rieswas written from 430 to 425 B.C.E. and had a section
devoted to Egypt. Herodotus traveled as far south as
ASWANand gathered information from the priest and offi-
cials. He was especially concerned with mummification,
pyramids, and rituals. Herodotus died c. 420 B.C.E. and
was named “the Father of History” by his supporters and
“the Father of Lies” by his detractors. Much of his histor-
ical data has been validated by new studies.Suggested Readings:Rawlinson, George, transl. The His-
tories.New York: Everyman’s Library, 1997; Romm, James
S. Herodotus.New Haven: Hermes Books, 1998; Thomas,
Rosalind. Herodotus in Context: Ethnography, Science, and
the Art of Persuasion.Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press,
2001.Herophilus of Chalcedon(d. 280 B.C.E.) Alexandrian
physician who practiced “new medicine”
The “new medicine” was the name applied to forensics
and the dissection of human cadavers. He was born c.
335 B.C.E. in Chalcedon (modern Kadiköy, Turkey) and
went to ALEXANDRIAto study under the new regulationsHerophilus of Chalcedon 1 67