Egypt - Necropolises of Middle Egypt, from the Middle Empire to the Roman period

Chronology In the four necropolises, the tombs can be all dated between the Middle Empire and the low Roman period over a long period of about 2500 years which chronologically is as follows: 1°) necropolises of Beni Hassan and Deir al-Barsha Two necropolises representative of nobiliary tombs of the Middle Empire (2064-1797) in Middle Egypt. 2°) necropolis of Tell el Amarna It belongs to quite an exceptional period in the history of ancient Egypt and the New Empire (1543-1078) corresponding to the reign of Akhenaton (1348-1331) which only lasted for 17 years but had longlasting consequences and left us with an astonishingly original legacy. 3°) necropolis of Touna al-Gabal There are some tombs (in the southern part) dating from the ancient Empire. But this necropolis is above all remarkable for its tombs from the low period with its happy combination of Greco-Roman and Egyptian art. 1° Necropolises of Beni Hassan and Deir el-Barsha Necropolis of Beni Hassen It harbours the sepultures of the great feudal lords who controlled the nome of Oryx (16th nome) during the Middle Empire with a great degree of independence vis-à-vis the central authority until this central authority decided to strengthen its authority even if it meant breaking the family ties of the nomarchs in the whole of Middle Egypt, striking a fatal blow at the construction of these great and costly tombs hewn out of the rock and thus interrupting their construction.