El-Baqliya is a small village to the south of el-Mansura in the
eastern Delta to the west of Tell el-Rub’a (Mendes). This was once the
ancient town of Ba’h, known to the Greeks as Hermopolis Parva and
capital of the 15th Lower Egyptian Nome. This town should not be
confused with another Hermopolis Parva (modern Damanhur) in the
western Delta, which was capital of the 3rd Lower Egyptian Nome.
Hermopolis was the name given to cities associated with the god Thoth
(Greek Hermes) the ancient Egyptian god of wisdom and writing. El-Baqliya
was known as an important cult centre of Thoth during the Late and
Graeco-Roman Periods.
Nothing remains of the town today, which was levelled completely
during the 20th century. There were three low mounds which marked the
sites around el-Baqliya. One of the mounds, called Tell el-Naqus,
probably covered the town of Hermopolis Parva and the Temple of Thoth.
It’s Arabic name ‘Mound of the Bell’ is derived from the bell-shaped
column capital which was found there with a few other scattered
remains. Although never properly excavated the mound contained the
outlines of a large enclosure measuring 350m by 384m. Blocks found
nearby contain the names of Dynasty XXVI kings Psamtek I Wahibre and
Apries Haaibre, who presumably contributed to the decoration of the
monuments, as well as fragments of a statue of Ahmose II Khnemibre.
There is so far no evidence of structures at el-Baqliya before the New
Kingdom.
A nearby mound at Tell el-Zereiki probably covers the necropolis of
Hermopolis Parva which included an ibis cemetery dating to the Late
Period. |
