Cusae

Al- Qusiyya (also Qu, Cusae; القوصية al - Qūsiyya, DMG al - Qusiya ) is one of eleven cities in the Egyptian Governorate Asyut and administrative center of the district of the same name. It is located on the Nilwestseite between the sites Dairut and Manfalut, north of Asyut and has about 68,000 inhabitants.

Even if up to now not been demonstrated archaeologically, as you suspected, that the present town stands on the site of the ancient Egyptian city of Qus, which already results from the similarity of names.

History

Pharaonic period

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From inscriptions the city Qus is occupied since the Old Kingdom. It is the capital of the 14th Upper Egyptian Gaus. It is the center of worship of the goddess Hathor, Lady of Qus.

Archaeological this city is not occupied. However, there are two of their cemeteries known: Meir, about 12 km west of the present city, and Quseir al -Amarna on the Nilostseite. During the latter cemetery was only used during the Old Kingdom, and only a few officials, the necropolis of Meir, at least in the Old Kingdom ( Dynasty 6 ), during the Middle Kingdom (12th Dynasty) and used in the Greco- Roman period has been.

King Kamose reported that by the end of the second meantime, the trade routes of the Hyksos until after Qus were enough to be transported in this region materials from the quarries by Retjenu.

Greek - Roman period

In the fourth and fifth centuries AD, the Roman Legion II Flavia Constantia was stationed here.

Christian Era

Cusae is the southernmost point in the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt, where they took about 6 months shelter.

Today, there are the ( monastery ) ad - Dair al - Muharraq about 15 km west of the city an important religious center and pilgrimage site.