Overview
The necropolis of ancient Hermopolis, with animal catacombs sacred to Thoth and the temple-shaped tomb of the priest Petosiris.
Attraction
Tuna el-Gebel
Catacombs of sacred ibises and baboons, and a Greek-Egyptian tomb built like a temple.
Photo: Roland Unger / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 (resized)
Why Visit Tuna el-Gebel
Few places show the meeting of Egyptian and Greek art as directly as the tomb of Petosiris, and the animal galleries are unlike anything else you will walk through in Egypt.
History of Tuna el-Gebel
The galleries held votive burials of ibises and baboons, both sacred to Thoth, deposited over centuries by pilgrims. The tomb of Petosiris dates to about 300 BC and its reliefs combine Egyptian subject matter with Greek treatment, marking the start of the Ptolemaic blend.
Best Time to Visit Tuna el-Gebel
October to April. The underground galleries stay cool.
How to Get to Tuna el-Gebel
Near Mallawi in Minya governorate, Middle Egypt. Reached by road and normally visited together with Tell el-Amarna.
Nearby Attractions
Tours That Include Tuna el-Gebel
Plan Your Visit to Tuna el-Gebel
Want to include Tuna el-Gebel in your Egypt itinerary? Browse our tours or ask for a custom plan.
- Middle Egypt Attractions Explore Middle Egypt Attractions
- Beni Hasan Shared taxonomy
- Tell el-Amarna Shared taxonomy
- Aswan Tourism relevance match
- Cairo Tourism relevance match
- Egypt Tourism relevance match
- Can this itinerary be customized around our arrival and departure dates? Tourism relevance match
- Is a Nile cruise worth it on a first Egypt trip? Tourism relevance match