Tuna el-Gebel Northern Ibis Catacombs
Tuna el-Gebel North · Ibis Catacombs North · Tuna el-Gabal North
Late Period to Roman (664 BCE–250 CE)·Egyptian (Late Period–Ptolemaic–Roman)·🇪🇬 Minya Governorate, Tuna el-Gebel necropolis, northern gallery 400 m north of Petosiris tomb, Egypt
About
About Tuna el-Gebel Northern Ibis Catacombs
Northern ibis-baboon gallery of Hermopolis necropolis, this 400 m catacomb network contains 2 million mummified ibises in pottery jars (pilgrim ex-voto to Thoth), baboon gallery with granite sarcophagus of ape (H. Baboon), façade temple of Akhenaten boundary stela fragment reused, and priest house with ostraca. Saitic to Roman (600 BCE–250 CE). Electric bulb 1930s by Sami Gabra still hangs. Breathable but guano ammonia.
Why it mattersAnimal mummy industry scale (2m ibises) and pilgrim economy for Hermopolis.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Jar sealing chronology
- 02Guano methane
Theories
- 01Kessler Tuna model
- 02Gabra ibis study
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Saite start 600 BCE; Ptolemaic peak 200 BCE; Roman end 250 CE
- Period
- Late Period to Roman (664 BCE–250 CE)
- Culture
- Egyptian (Late Period–Ptolemaic–Roman)
- Builders
- Priests of Thoth (Hermopolis)
- Purpose
- Animal cult catacomb and pilgrim votive industry for Thoth–Hermes
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
600 BCE
First ibis burials (Saite)
200 BCE
Peak Ptolemaic 2m ibises
120 CE
Baboon gallery added
1930 CE
Gabra electric excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
27.7420° N · 30.7110° E · 52 m · 2 mapped features
Ibis Gallery with Jar Piles
catacomb200 m gallery with 2m ibis jars in conical pots wall-stacked
27.7425° N · 30.7115° EBaboon Granite Sarcophagus
sarcophagusGranite sarcophagus for sacred baboon Thoth ape, lid inscribed
27.7415° N · 30.7105° E