Hu, Egypt

Hiw
Hiw
Location in Egypt
Coordinates: 26°1′N 32°17′E / 26.017°N 32.283°E / 26.017; 32.283
Country  Egypt
Time zone UTC+2 (EST)

Hu (Arabic: هُ‎) is the modern name of an Egyptian town on the Nile, which in more ancient times was the capital of the 7th Nome of Upper Egypt. The nome was referred to as Sesheshet (Sistrum). The main city was referred to as Hu(t)-sekhem, which was abbreviated as Hu. This led to the Arabic name Hiw. In Ptolemaic times the city was called Diospolis Parva (Little Zeus-City) in comparison with Thebes, Egypt, known as Diospolis Magna (Great Zeus-City). It was also called Diospolis Superior (Upper Zeus-City), in comparison with Diospolis Inferior (Lower Zeus-City) in the Nile Delta.

Fragment of pottery door granary, used as a lamp. Probably dates back to the 2nd intermediate period. Probably from Cemetery W at Diospolis Parva (Hu), Egypt. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London

Hu was the centre of the cult surrounding Bat, a goddess in Egyptian mythology.[1]

The goddess Bat remains the main goddess until at least the time of the 12th dynasty as she is mentioned on a shrine belonging to Senusret I. By the time of the New Kingdom Bat is replaced by Hathor as the main goddess worshipped at Hu.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Robert Morkot, The Egyptians: an introduction, Psychology Press, 2005. Retrieved from google books
  2. ↑ The Horizon: Studies in Egyptology in Honour of M.A. Nur El-Din edited by Basem El-Sharkaway, retrieved from google books


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